SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 1998
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
1-4329 34-4297750
(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
LIMA AND WESTERN AVENUES
FINDLAY, OHIO 45840
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(419) 423-1321
(Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On February 10, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Registrant
(the "Board") authorized the amendment and restatement of its stockholder rights
plan, dated May 27, 1988, resulting in an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement,
dated May 11, 1998 (the "Amended Rights Agreement"), between the Registrant and
The Fifth Third Bank, as rights agent.
The Amended Rights Agreement was adopted in the normal course
of updating and extending the predecessor stockholder rights plan which was
scheduled to expire on May 27, 1998 and not in response to any acquisition
proposal.
In the Amended Rights Agreement, the Registrant has extended
the expiration date of its stockholder rights plan to May 11, 2008, and has
amended it to reflect prevailing stockholder rights plan terms. These amendments
include, without limitation, the following: (a) the threshold beneficial
ownership level of the common stock which triggers (i) the exercise of the
rights, (ii) the "flip-in" feature of the rights and (iii) the "flip-over"
feature of the rights has been reduced from 20% to 15%; (b) the threshold
beneficial ownership level of the common stock sought in a commenced or in an
announced tender or exchange offer that triggers the exerciseability of the
rights has been lowered from 30% to 15%; and (c) the independent director
provision in the predecessor stockholder rights plan has been omitted from the
Amended Rights Agreement.
A copy of the Amended Rights Agreement is attached hereto as
Exhibit 4 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing discussion does
not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
Exhibit.
Item 7. Exhibits.
Exhibit 4 Form of Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
dated as of May 11, 1998, between the
Registrant and The Fifth Third Bank, as rights
agent, including Form of Rights Certificate as
Exhibit A, Summary of Rights to purchase
Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the Form of
Certificate of Designation for the Preferred
Stock as Exhibit C.
Exhibit 99 Form of Press Release, dated May 15, 1998.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned duly hereunto authorized.
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
By: /s/ Stan C. Kaiman
------------------------------------------
Name: Stan C. Kaiman
Title: Secretary
Date: May 15, 1998
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Description
4 Form of Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
dated as of May 11, 1998, between the Registrant
and The Fifth Third Bank, as rights agent,
including Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit
A, Summary of Rights to purchase Preferred Stock
as Exhibit B and the Form of Certificate of
Designation for the Preferred Stock as Exhibit
C.
99 Form of Press Release, dated May 15, 1998.
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
and
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK
Rights Agent
Amended and Restated
Rights Agreement
Dated as of May 11, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. Certain Definitions.............................................. 1
SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent...................................... 6
SECTION 3. Issue of Rights Certificates..................................... 6
SECTION 4. Form of Rights Certificates...................................... 7
SECTION 5. Countersignature and Registration................................ 8
SECTION 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates.................................................. 9
SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.... 10
SECTION 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.............. 12
SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.................... 12
SECTION 10. Preferred Stock Record Date...................................... 13
SECTION 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights.............................................. 14
SECTION 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares....... 23
SECTION 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power................................................. 23
SECTION 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.......................... 26
SECTION 15. Rights of Action................................................. 27
SECTION 16. Agreement of Rights Holders...................................... 28
SECTION 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder............... 28
SECTION 18. Concerning the Rights Agent...................................... 29
SECTION 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent........ 29
SECTION 20. Duties of Rights Agent........................................... 30
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SECTION 21. Change of Rights Agent........................................... 32
SECTION 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................. 33
SECTION 23. Redemption and Termination....................................... 34
SECTION 24. Notice of Certain Events......................................... 35
SECTION 25. Notices.......................................................... 35
SECTION 26. Supplements and Amendments....................................... 36
SECTION 27. Successors....................................................... 37
SECTION 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc........ 37
SECTION 29. Benefits of this Agreement....................................... 37
SECTION 30. Severability..................................................... 37
SECTION 31. Governing Law.................................................... 38
SECTION 32. Counterparts..................................................... 38
SECTION 33. Descriptive Headings............................................. 38
SECTION 34. Exchange......................................................... 38
Exhibit A - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit B - Form of Summary of Rights
Exhibit C - Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of May 11,
1998, between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and The Fifth Third Bank, a state bank organized under the laws of
Ohio (the "Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, on May 27, 1988 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a
distribution of one Right (each a "Right") for each share of common stock, par
value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Company Common Stock") outstanding
at the Close of Business (as defined below) on June 6, 1988 (the "Record Date"),
and issued one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant
hereto) for each share of Company Common Stock issued between the Record Date
(whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and, except
as otherwise provided in Section 22, the Distribution Date (as defined below),
each Right initially representing the right to purchase upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth one Unit of Preferred Stock (as
defined below);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has authorized amending the
Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 1988, between the Company and AmeriTrust
Company National Association, which amendment will, among other things, extend
the Final Expiration Date (as defined below) and change the Rights Agent; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to set forth certain terms and
conditions governing the Rights;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
alone or together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Company
Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) "Adjustment Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii).
(c) "Adjustment Spread" has the meaning set forth in Section
34(a)(ii).
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(d) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act
Regulations as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(e) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own", and shall be deemed to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, any securities:
(i) of which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates is considered to be a "beneficial
owner" under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act Regulations as in
effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that
a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own", or have a "Beneficial Ownership" of, any
securities under this subparagraph (i) as a result of an
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
securities if such agreement, arrangement or understanding (A)
arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act
and the Exchange Act Regulations, and (B) is not reportable by
such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report);
(ii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,
by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such
other Person) with which such Person (or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this
paragraph (e)) or disposing of such securities; or
(iii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or
options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that under this paragraph (e) a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", or to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender
or exchange offer made in accordance with Exchange Act Regulations by
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B)
securities that may be issued upon exercise of Rights at any time prior
to the
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occurrence of a Triggering Event or (C) securities that may be issued
upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or
pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 or pursuant to Section 11(i) in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any such Rights.
(f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(g) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the next succeeding Business Day.
(h) "Common Stock" of any Person other than the Company shall
mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power,
or, if such Person shall have no capital stock, the equity securities
or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management of such Person.
(i) "Company" has the meaning set forth in the recital of
parties to this Agreement.
(j) "Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the
preliminary statements to this Agreement.
(k) "Current Value" has the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii).
(l) "Depositary Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section
7(c).
(m) "Distribution Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
(n) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" has the meaning set forth in
Section 11(b).
(o) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(p) "Exchange Act Regulations" shall mean the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(q) "Expiration Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
7(a).
(r) "Final Expiration Date" has the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a).
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(s) "Mailing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).
(t) "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, limited
liability company, firm, corporation, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity, as well as any syndicate
or group deemed to be a person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act.
(u) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Preferred Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Company having the voting powers,
designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions
described in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights set
forth as Exhibit C hereto.
(v) "preferred stock equivalents" has the meaning specified in
Section 11(a)(iii).
(w) "Principal Party" has the meaning set forth in Section
13(b).
(x) "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
7(b).
(y) "Record Date" has the meaning set forth in the preliminary
statements to this Agreement.
(z) "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
23(a).
(aa) "Registered Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b)(ii).
(ba) "Registration Date" has the meaning set forth in Section
9(c).
(ca) "Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in
Section 9(c).
(da) "Right" has the meaning set forth in the preliminary
statements to this Agreement.
(ea) "Rights Agent" has the meaning set forth in the recital
of parties to this Agreement.
(fa) "Rights Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
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(ga) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" has the meaning set
forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
(ha) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C).
(ia) "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date" has the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii).
(ja) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a).
(ka) "Section 34(a)(i) Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set
forth in Section 34(a)(i).
(la) "Section 34(a)(ii) Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set
forth in Section 34(a)(ii).
(ma) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
(na) "Spread" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).
(oa) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (including, without limitation, the filing of any
report pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or
an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(pa) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any other Person of which an amount of voting securities or equity
interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or
equivalent governing body of such other Person is beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such
first-mentioned Person.
(qa) "Summary of Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b).
(ra) "Trading Day" has the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i).
(sa) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.
(ta) "Unit" has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
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SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the
terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. With the consent of the Rights Agent, the Company may from time to
time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
SECTION 3. Issue of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the earlier
of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date
and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as
may be determined by action of the Company's Board of Directors prior to such
time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, and of which the Company will
give the Rights Agent prompt written notice) after the date that a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in
such capacity) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or any successor rule, if upon
consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii)
above being the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject
to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for
shares of Company Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock as of and subsequent to the Record Date (which
certificates for shares of Company Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Company Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, if requested by the Company, the Rights
Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of shares of Company 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 A
hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of
Company Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the
event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Company Common
Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11, at the time of distribution of the
Rights Certificates, the Company may make the necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a)) so that Rights Certificates
representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in
lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the date hereof (the
"Mailing Date"), the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock, in a form that may be appended to certificates that represent
shares of Company Common Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class,
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postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock as
of the Mailing Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company.
(c) Rights shall, without any further action, be issued in
respect of all shares of Company Common Stock that are issued (including any
shares of Company Common Stock held in treasury) after the date hereof but prior
to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date. Certificates
representing such shares of Company Common Stock issued after the date hereof
shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement, dated as of May 11, 1998 (the "Amended Rights Agreement"),
between Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (the "Company") and The Fifth
Third Bank (the "Rights Agent"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal office of the stock transfer administration office of the
Rights Agent. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Amended
Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The
Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Amended Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without
charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances set forth in the Amended Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Amended Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on
behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and
void.
With respect to certificates representing shares of Company
Common Stock (whether or not such certificates include the foregoing legend or
have appended to them the Summary of Rights), until the earlier of (i) the
Distribution Date and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated with the
shares of Company Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of the shares of
Company Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated
Rights, and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Company Common Stock
represented by such certificates.
SECTION 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights
Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase, assignment and certificate
to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form
set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any
rule or regulation
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thereunder 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 Sections 11 and 22, 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 Units of Preferred Stock as shall be set
forth therein at the price set forth therein, but the amount and type of
securities, cash or other assets that may be acquired upon the exercise of each
Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided
herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant hereto that
represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee after
the Acquiring Person becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and which receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from
the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity
interests in such Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) or to any
Person with whom such Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding either the
transferred Rights, shares of Company Common Stock or the Company or (B) a
transfer which a majority of the Company's Board of Directors has determined to
be part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose
or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, shall, upon the written
direction of a majority of the Company's Board of Directors, contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become
null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such
Agreement.
SECTION 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) Rights
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal
reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant
Secretaries. The signature of one or more of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile. Rights Certificates bearing the manual
or facsimile signatures of the individuals who were at any time the proper
officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such
individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the
countersignature of such Rights Certificates or did not hold such offices at the
date of such Rights Certificates. No Rights Certificate shall be entitled to any
benefit under this Agreement or be valid for any purpose unless there appears on
such Rights Certificate a countersignature duly executed by the Rights Agent by
manual signature of an
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authorized signatory, and such countersignature upon any Rights Certificate
shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Rights
Certificate has been duly countersigned as required hereunder.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated for surrender of Rights
Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of
the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the name and
address of each holder of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights
evidenced on its face by each Rights Certificate and the date of each Rights
Certificate.
SECTION 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14, 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 may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of Units
of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered
Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and executed
the certificate set forth in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights
represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as
the Company shall reasonably request; whereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject
to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14, 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) If a Rights Certificate shall be mutilated, destroyed,
lost or stolen, upon request by the registered holder of the Rights represented
thereby and upon payment to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable
expenses incident thereto, there shall be issued, in exchange for and upon
cancellation of the mutilated Rights Certificate, or in substitution for the
lost, stolen or destroyed Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate, in
substantially the form of the prior Rights Certificate, of like tenor and
representing the equivalent number of Rights, but, in the case of loss, theft or
destruction, only upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Company and the
Rights Agent of such loss, theft or destruction of
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such Rights Certificate and, if requested by the Company or the Rights Agent,
indemnity also satisfactory to it.
SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights. (a) Prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth
anniversary hereof (the "Final Expiration Date") and (ii) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being
the "Expiration Date"), the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may,
subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e) and 9(c), exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date
upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase
and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined) for the
number of Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) for which such surrendered
Rights are then exercisable.
(b) The purchase price for each one one-hundredth of a share
(each such one one-hundredth of a share being a "Unit") of Preferred Stock upon
exercise of Rights shall be $135, subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) (such purchase price, as so adjusted, being
the "Purchase Price"), and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c)
below.
(c) As promptly as practicable following the occurrence of the
Distribution Date, the Company shall deposit with a corporation in good standing
organized under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States,
which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority (such institution being the "Depositary Agent"), certificates
representing the shares of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of
the Rights and shall cause such Depositary Agent to enter into an agreement
pursuant to which the Depositary Agent shall issue receipts representing
interests in the shares of Preferred Stock so deposited. Upon receipt of a
Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase and the certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect
to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price for the Units of Preferred
Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets,
as the case may be) to be purchased thereby as set forth below and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax or evidence satisfactory to the Company of
payment of such tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k), thereupon
promptly (i) requisition from the Depositary Agent depositary receipts
representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased and
the Company will direct the Depositary Agent to comply with such request, (ii)
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14, (iii) after receipt of such
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
<PAGE>
11
or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to
issue Company Common Stock, other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or
distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a), the Company will make all
arrangements necessary so that such Company Common Stock, other securities, cash
and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and
when appropriate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be
reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)) may be made in cash, by certified or
bank check, bank draft payable to the order of the Company, or by wire transfer
of immediately available funds to the account of the Company (provided that
notice of such wire transfer shall be given by the holder of the related Right
to the Rights Agent).
(d) In the event that the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
Section 13 Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee after
the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Associate or Affiliate) which becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and which receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from
the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity
interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) or to
any Person with whom such Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has
any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights, shares of Company Common Stock or the Company or (B) a transfer which a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors has determined to be part of a
plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further
action, and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall
have no liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as a result of its
failure to make any determination under this Section 7(e) or Section 4(b) with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to undertake any action
<PAGE>
12
with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise by such registered holder unless such registered holder shall have (i)
completed and executed the certificate following the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by 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
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by
it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any Rights Certificates acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the
exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a)
The Company shall at all times prior to the Expiration Date cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock,
the number of shares of Preferred Stock that, as provided in this Agreement,
including, without limitation, Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to
permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights. Upon the occurrence of
any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate number of shares of
Preferred Stock (or other equity securities of the Company) issuable upon
exercise of all outstanding Rights above the number then reserved, the Company
shall make appropriate increases in the number of shares so reserved.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock to be issued and
delivered upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national
securities exchange, the Company shall during the period from the Distribution
Date through the Expiration Date use its best efforts to cause all securities
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 (i) as soon as
practicable following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and a
determination by the Company in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) of the
consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights or, if
so required by law, as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date (such
date being the "Registration Date"), to file a registration statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the securities that
may be acquired upon exercise
<PAGE>
13
of the Rights (the "Registration Statement"), (ii) to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, (iii) to
cause the Registration Statement to continue to be effective (and to include a
prospectus complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for the
securities covered by the Registration Statement, and (B) the Expiration Date
and (iv) to take as soon as practicable following the Registration Date such
action as may be required to ensure that any acquisition of securities upon
exercise of the Rights complies with any applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws.
(d) The Company shall take such action as may be necessary to
ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, any other securities that may be delivered upon exercise of
Rights) shall be, at the time of delivery of the certificates or depositary
receipts for such securities, duly and validly authorized and issued and fully
paid and non-assessable.
(e) The Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or transfer
tax imposed in connection with the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or upon the exercise of Rights; provided, however, the Company
shall not be required to pay any such tax imposed in connection with the
issuance or delivery of Units of Preferred Stock, or any certificates or
depositary receipts for such Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities, cash or assets, as the
case may be) to any person other than the registered holder of the Rights
Certificates evidencing the Rights surrendered for exercise. The Company shall
not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for
Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
any other securities, cash or assets, as the case may be) to, or in a name other
than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate upon the exercise
of any Rights represented thereby until any 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 Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
other securities) 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 any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, other securities) transfer books of the Company are
closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business
Day on which the Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, other
<PAGE>
14
securities) transfer books of the Company are open; and provided further,
however, that if delivery of Units of Preferred Stock is delayed pursuant to
Section 9(c), such Persons shall be deemed to have become the record holders of
such Units of Preferred Stock only when such Units first become deliverable.
Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights
Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company
with respect to securities for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
SECTION 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of
securities 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 that the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred
Stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger
in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), 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 upon exercise of the Rights,
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, such
holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive
by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment
under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment
provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and
shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii).
(ii) In the event that:
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of
any Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this
Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall (1) merge into the
Company or otherwise combine with the Company and the Company
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
merger or combination and Company Common Stock shall remain
<PAGE>
15
outstanding and unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a
series of transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or
to any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part)
for shares of Company Common Stock, for other equity
securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or for
securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of
equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(whether Company Common Stock or otherwise) or otherwise
obtain from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or
without consideration, any additional shares of such equity
securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into
such equity securities (other than pursuant to a pro rata
distribution to all holders of Company Common Stock), (3)
sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a
series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or
fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity,
assets (including securities) on terms and conditions less
favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary or plan than those
that could have been obtained in arm's-length negotiations
with an unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a), (4) sell, purchase,
lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise
acquire or dispose of in one transaction or a series of
transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of the
Company's Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or
fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity
(other than transactions, if any, consistent with those
engaged in, as of the date hereof, by the Company and such
Acquiring Person or such Associate or Affiliate), assets
(including securities) having an aggregate fair market value
of more than $5,000,000, other than pursuant to a transaction
set forth in Section 13(a), (5) sell, purchase, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or
dispose of in one transaction or a series of transactions, to,
from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such
plan acting in such capacity, any material trademark or
material service mark, other than pursuant to a transaction
set forth in Section 13(a), (6) receive (or any designee,
agent or representative of such Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person shall receive)
any compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
other than compensation for full-time employment as a regular
employee at rates in accordance with the Company's (or its
Subsidiaries') past practices, or (7) receive the benefit,
directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a holder of
Company Common Stock or as required by law or governmental
regulation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or
other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax
advantage provided by the Company or any of its
<PAGE>
16
Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary
with respect to such plan acting in such capacity;
(B) any Person shall become an Acquiring Person, unless
the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is
pursuant to any transaction set forth in Section 13(a); or
(C) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person,
there shall be any reclassification of securities (including
any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Company,
or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its
Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series of
transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
other than a transaction or transactions to which the
provisions of Section 13(a) apply (whether or not with or into
or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person) which has the
effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1%
the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person;
then, immediately upon the date of the occurrence of an event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), proper provision
shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e)) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of Units
of Preferred Stock as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of Units
of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (such product
thereafter being, for all purposes of this Agreement other than Section
13, the "Purchase Price"), and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the
then current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per
Unit of Preferred Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such
Units of Preferred Stock being the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company, by the vote of a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors, shall: (A) determine the
excess of
<PAGE>
17
(1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess
being the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for such Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase
Price, (3) Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock (such other shares being "preferred 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 a majority of the Company's Board of Directors, after
receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment banking firm;
provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate
provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty
days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of
redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y)
being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii) 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, Units of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which Units of Preferred Stock and/or cash shall have
an aggregate value equal to the Spread. To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first
sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company shall provide, subject
to Section 7(e), that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value
of a Unit of Preferred Stock shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per Unit of Preferred Stock on
the Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date and the value of any preferred
stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the
Preferred Stock on such date.
(b) In the event 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 calendar days after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or
shares having substantially the same rights, privileges and preferences as
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)) 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 sum of 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
<PAGE>
18
convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market
price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription
or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible). In the event such subscription price may be paid by
delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash,
the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors, 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 or any Subsidiary 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 the event that the Company shall fix a record date for
a distribution to all holders of shares 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 shares of 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)) per share of Preferred Stock on
such record date less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the
Rights Agent and the holder of the Rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
distributable in respect of a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of
which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)) per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is
not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" per share of Company Common Stock or Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such shares for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date;
provided, however, if prior to the expiration of such requisite ten Trading Day
period the issuer announces either (A) a dividend or distribution on such shares
payable in such shares or securities convertible into such shares
<PAGE>
19
(other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such shares, then, following the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or the record date for such subdivision, as the case may be, the
"current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account such
event. The closing price for each day shall be, if the shares are listed and
admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are
listed or admitted to trading or, if such shares are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market System or such other system
then in use, or, if on any such date such shares are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in such shares selected by a majority
of the Company's Board of Directors. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in such shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors shall
be used. If such shares are 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 a majority 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. The term "Trading Day" shall
mean, if such shares are listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a day on which the principal national securities exchange
on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if such shares are not so listed or admitted, a
Business Day.
(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 Company Common Stock in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d) (other than the fourth sentence thereof). If the current market
price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided
above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a
manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market price"
per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal
to 100 (as such amount may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to Company Common
Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current
market price per share of Company Common Stock. If neither Company Common Stock
nor Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, "current market
price" per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors,
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.
For all purposes of this Agreement, the "current market price" of a Unit of
Preferred Stock shall be equal to the "current market price" of one share of
Preferred Stock divided by 100.
<PAGE>
20
(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 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 Company Common
Stock or 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 years from the date of the transaction which mandates
such adjustment and (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or 13(a), the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 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 Units of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or amount of cash or combination thereof) that may be
acquired 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
Units of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a
Unit) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Units of Preferred Stock
covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and
(ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of Units of Preferred Stock that may be acquired 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 Units 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
<PAGE>
21
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the
Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election
to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment,
and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record
date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day
thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least
ten days later than the date of such 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, 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 to be so
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 Units 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 Unit and the number of Units of
Preferred Stock which were expressed in the Initial Rights Certificates issued
hereunder without prejudice to any such adjustment or change.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of Units of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue such fully paid and
non-assessable number of Units of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase
Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
of that number of Units of Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of Units of Preferred Stock and shares of 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
<PAGE>
22
bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive
such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment a majority 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 holders or shall
reduce the taxes payable by such holders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge with or
into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), if (x)
at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
Person which constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for
purposes of Section 13(a) shall have distributed or otherwise transferred to its
stockholders or other persons holding an equity interest in such Person Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates;
provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect the ability of any
Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or
transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except
as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26, take (or permit any Subsidiary to
take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably
foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
<PAGE>
23
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a dividend on the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock payable in shares
of Company Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of Company Common Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), the number of Rights associated with each share of
Company Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but
prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Company Common Stock
following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
number of Rights associated with each share of Company Common Stock immediately
prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number
of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately following the
occurrence of such event.
SECTION 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13, 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 Company Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief
summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the
Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of
Company Common Stock) in accordance with Section 25. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment
unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
SECTION 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power. (a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition
Date, directly or indirectly, either (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or
merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), and the Company shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o)) 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 Company Common Stock shall be converted
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) to any Person or
Persons (other
<PAGE>
24
than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of
which complies with Section 11(o)), in one or more transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (any such event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) being a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case,
proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as
provided in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of
the Principal Party, which shares shall not be subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions or other adverse
claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a
Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such Units for which
a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the occurrence of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price which would be in effect hereunder but for
such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be the "Purchase Price" for all purposes
of this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date
of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall, for
all purposes of this Agreement, thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall, for all purposes of
this Agreement, thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such
Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection
with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that
the provisions of this Agreement shall thereafter be applicable to its shares of
Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) shall be of no further effect following the
first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x)
or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is
the issuer of any securities into which shares of Company Common Stock
are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more
than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Stock that has the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d))
and (B) if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other
party to such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one
such Person, the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d));
and
<PAGE>
25
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
party receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each
Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the
same portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions or if the Person receiving the largest
portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever
Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d));
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-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered
Common Stock"), or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct
or indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the
Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not
a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another
Person but is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has
Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the
ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Stock
of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a
corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than
one Person, and one or more of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is
the issuer of the Registered Common Stock having the highest aggregate current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)); and (4) if the Common Stock
of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a
corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than
one Person, and none of such other Persons have Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity
is the corporation having the greatest stockholders' equity or, if no such
ultimate parent entity is a corporation, shall refer to whichever ultimate
parent entity is the entity having the greatest net assets.
(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 the Principal Party will:
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as
practicable following the execution of such agreement, a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock
that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights, (B) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (and to include a prospectus
<PAGE>
26
complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
Expiration Date, and (C) as soon as practicable following the execution
of such agreement take such action as may be required to ensure that
any acquisition of such Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights
complies with any applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 under the Exchange Act.
(d) In the event that the Principal Party which is to be a
party to a transaction referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of
its authorized securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or
other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the
effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section
13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at
less than such then current market price (other than to holders of Rights
pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or
similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13; then, in such
event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior
thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in
question of such Principal Party shall have been cancelled, waived or amended,
or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable
provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
SECTION 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute
Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional
Rights, there shall be paid to the Persons to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to such fraction of the market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the 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, if the
Rights are listed or admitted to trading
<PAGE>
27
on a national securities exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to
trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
the NASDAQ National Market System 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 a majority of the Company's Board of
Directors. 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
a majority of the Company's Board of Directors shall be used and such
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(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 such fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of
a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of such fractional shares of Preferred
Stock which are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share, 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 then current market value of a share of Preferred Stock on the
day of exercise, determined in accordance with Section 11(d).
(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of such Right,
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
SECTION 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect
of this Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent
pursuant to Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders
of certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock); and any registered
holder of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of a
certificate representing shares of Company 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 a certificate representing shares of Company Common
Stock), may, in such registered holder's own behalf and for such registered
holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action
or proceeding against the Company or any other Person to enforce, or otherwise
act in respect of, such registered holder's 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
<PAGE>
28
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
SECTION 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a
Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the
Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Company 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 of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of
transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates duly executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f), 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 Company
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 Certificates or the associated
Company Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company
or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section
7(e), 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 any other Person as a result of
its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by
reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a
governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any
statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by
any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use
its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or
otherwise overturned as promptly as practicable.
SECTION 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
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
<PAGE>
29
construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of
the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election
of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, except as
provided in Section 24, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders, 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, including reasonable fees and disbursements of its
counsel, incurred in connection with the execution and administration of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
shall indemnify the Rights Agent for, and 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 hereunder.
(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 Preferred Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, executed
and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged by the proper Person or Persons.
SECTION 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent. (a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the corporate trust or shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any document 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. In the event that 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 the event that 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
<PAGE>
30
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 the event that 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
the event that at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
SECTION 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent
undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the
following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of "current market price") be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be specified herein) may be deemed to be conclusively proved
and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board,
the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; provided, however, that so long as any
Person is an Acquiring Person hereunder, such certificate shall be
signed and delivered by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors;
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
<PAGE>
31
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 have any responsibility for the
validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or for 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 failure by the Company to satisfy
conditions contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for change in the exercisability of the
Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section
7(e)) or for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11
or 13 or any other provision, or for the manner, method or amount of
any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that
would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise
of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights
Agent of the certificate describing any such adjustment contemplated by
Section 12); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of
any shares of Preferred Stock or any other securities to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether
any shares of Preferred Stock or any other securities will, when so
issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(f) The Company shall perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered
all such further acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the performance by the Rights Agent of
its duties under this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not
be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any
delay in acting while waiting for such instructions; provided, however,
that so long as any Person is an Acquiring Person hereunder, the Rights
Agent shall accept such instructions and advice only from a majority of
the Company's Board of Directors and shall not be liable for any action
taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
such instructions of the majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the
Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing
any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under
this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action
shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent
shall not be liable for any action taken
<PAGE>
32
by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified in
such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days
after the date any such officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing
to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall
have received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights
or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract
with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely
as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein
shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for
the Company or for any other Person.
(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.
(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 or in the exercise of
its rights hereunder if the Rights Agent shall have reasonable grounds
for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to
the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may
be, has either not been completed, not signed or indicates an
affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent
shall not take any further action with respect to such requested
exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company. If such
certificate has been completed and signed and does not show a positive
response to clauses 1 and 2 of such certificate, unless previously
instructed otherwise in writing by the Company (which instructions may
impose on the Rights Agent additional ministerial responsibilities, but
no discretionary responsibilities), the Rights Agent may assume without
further inquiry that the Rights Certificate is not owned by a person
described in Section 4(b) or Section 7(e) and shall not be charged with
any knowledge to the contrary.
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 days' prior notice in writing mailed to the Company, and
to each transfer agent of the
<PAGE>
33
Preferred Stock and the Company Common Stock, by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates (or certificates for the Company
Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date) by first-class mail. The Company
may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty days'
prior notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent,
as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Stock and the
Company Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights Certificates (or certificates for the Company Common Stock prior to the
Distribution Date) 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 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 or, prior to the Distribution Date, the holder of a certificate for
the Company Common Stock (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's
Rights Certificate or certificate for Company Common Stock, as the case may be,
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate or, prior to the Distribution Date, the holder of a certificate for
the Company Common Stock 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 any state of
the United States in good standing, shall be authorized to do business as a
banking institution in a state of the United States, shall be authorized under
such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers, shall be subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and shall have at
the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a).
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 Preferred Stock
and the Company Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (or certificates for the Company
Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date). 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.
SECTION 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or 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 a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change made in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement in the Purchase Price or the number or kind or
class of
<PAGE>
34
shares or other securities or property that may be acquired upon exercise of the
Rights. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of
Company Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Company Common Stock so
issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Company's Board of Directors, 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) Subject to Section
28, the Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii)
the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all of the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, as such amount may
be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being the
"Redemption Price"), and the Company may, at its option, by action of a majority
of the Company's Board of Directors, pay the Redemption Price either in shares
of Company Common Stock (based on the current market price, determined in
accordance with Section 11(d), of the shares of Company Common Stock at the time
of redemption) or cash. Subject to the foregoing, the redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which
shall be filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's
last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
Company Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made.
<PAGE>
35
SECTION 24. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In the event that
the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay
any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or
to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the
Company), (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares
of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to
effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a
reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in
one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), or (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, to each holder of certificates for Company Common Stock), to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock
dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein
by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be
fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by
clause (i) or (ii) above at least 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 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;
provided, however, no such notice shall be required pursuant to this Section 24
if any Subsidiary of the Company effects a consolidation or merger with or into,
or effects a sale or other transfer of assets or earning power to, any other
Subsidiary of the Company.
(b) In the event that any of the events set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) shall occur, then, in any such case, 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 25, 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).
SECTION 25. Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing and
mailed or sent or delivered (including by telecopier), if to the Company, at its
address at:
<PAGE>
36
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
Lima & Western Avenues
Findlay, Ohio 45840
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Telecopy No.: (419) 424-4212
and if to the Rights Agent, at its address at:
Fifth Third Bank
Corporate Trust Administration
38 Fountain Square Plaza MD-1090D2
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
Attention: Trust Officer
Telecopy No.: (513) 744-6785
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or,
if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Company Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Company
Common Stock.
SECTION 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the
Distribution Date the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Company Common
Stock. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company may and the Rights
Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure
any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein
which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii)
to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement
the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) subject to Section 30, a time period relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company or, so
long as any Person is an Acquiring Person hereunder, from the majority of the
Company's Board of Directors, which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the
<PAGE>
37
terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Company
Common Stock.
SECTION 27. 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 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial
Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i)
of the Exchange Act Regulations as in effect on the date hereof. Except as
otherwise specifically provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to
exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of
the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power (i) to interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) to make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board or by a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on
the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties,
and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company or any member thereof
to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
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 shares of Company Common Stock)
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. 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 shares of Company Common Stock).
SECTION 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors
<PAGE>
38
determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from
this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement
and the Rights shall not then be redeemable, the right of redemption set forth
in Section 23 shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
SECTION 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware; provided, however, that
Sections 18, 19, 20 and 21 shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Ohio (or state of incorporation of any successor
Rights Agent).
SECTION 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
(including by telecopier) in one or more counterparts, and by the different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be
deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same instrument.
SECTION 33. Descriptive Headings. The headings contained in
this Agreement are for descriptive purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 34. Exchange. (a) (i) The Company may, at its option,
at any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, upon resolution
adopted by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors, exchange all or part
of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights
that have become void pursuant Section 7(e)) for Units of Preferred Stock at an
exchange ratio of one Unit of Preferred 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
"Section 34(a)(i) Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan maintained by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any trustee or fiduciary with respect
to such plan acting in such capacity), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding.
(ii) The Company may, at its option, at any time after any
person becomes an Acquiring Person, upon resolution adopted by a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to Section 7(e)) for Units of Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio
specified in the following sentence, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof. Subject to such adjustment, each Right may be exchanged for that number
of Units of Preferred Stock
<PAGE>
39
obtained by dividing the Adjustment Spread (as defined below) by the then
current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per Unit of
Preferred Stock on the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person and (ii) the date on which a tender or exchange offer by any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee
or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity) is first
published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange
Act Regulations or any successor rule, if upon consummation thereof such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Company Common
Stock then outstanding (such exchange ratio being the "Section 34(a)(ii)
Exchange Ratio"). The "Adjustment Spread" shall equal (x) the aggregate market
price on the date of such event of the number of Adjustment Shares determined
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), minus (y) the Purchase Price. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company may not effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any trustee or
fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity), together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or
more of the shares of the Company Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 34(a)
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 Units of Preferred Stock equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 34(a)(i)
Exchange Ratio or Section 34(a)(ii) Exchange Ratio, as the case may be. 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 Units of Preferred Stock for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which
will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section
7(e)) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock
which are authorized by the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation but
not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise
of the Rights are not sufficient to permit any exchange of Rights as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 34, the Company shall take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Preferred Stock for
issuance upon exchange of the Rights or make adequate provision to
<PAGE>
substitute (1) cash, (2) Company Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company, (3) debt securities of the Company, (4) other assets or (5) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Adjustment
Spread, where such aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Units of Preferred Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
Units. In lieu of fractional Units, the Company may pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exchanged as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of one Unit of Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed on their behalf as of the date first above
written.
ATTEST: COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
By _______________________ By ___________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
ATTEST:
By _______________________ By ___________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK
By ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No.___ ___Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE AMENDED
RIGHTS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT
THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES (SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED RIGHTS
AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN THE
AMENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME
NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
AMENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE AMENDED RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
This certifies that ____________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1998
(the "Amended Rights Agreement"; terms defined therein are used herein with the
same meaning unless otherwise defined herein) between Cooper Tire & Rubber
Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Fifth Third Bank, as
Rights Agent (which term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the
Amended Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date at the office of the Rights
Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid and non-assessable share of Series A
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the
Company at the Purchase Price initially of $135 per one one-hundredth share
(each such one one-hundredth of a share being a "Unit") of Preferred Stock, upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Election to
Purchase and related certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate (and the number of Units which may be purchased upon
exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per Unit set forth
above shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in the
Amended Rights Agreement.
- ----------------------------
* The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
2
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13
Event, if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned
by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
or, under certain circumstances described in the Amended Rights Agreement, a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, such Rights
shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.
In certain circumstances described in the Amended Rights
Agreement, the Rights evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof
to purchase capital stock of an entity other than the Company or receive common
stock, cash or other assets, all as provided in the Amended Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms and
conditions of the Amended Rights Agreement, which terms and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Amended 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. Copies
of the Amended Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the
Company and are available from the Company upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing an aggregate number of Rights
equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised
in part, the registered holder shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender
hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of
whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Amended Rights Agreement, the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company under
certain circumstances at its option at a redemption price of $.01 per Right,
payable at the Company's option in cash or in common stock of the Company,
subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in the Amended Rights
Agreement.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock), but in
lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Amended Rights
Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled
to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities which may at any time be issuable on
the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Amended Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
<PAGE>
3
to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions
affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Amended Rights Agreement), or
to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Amended Rights Agreement.
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 and its corporate seal. Dated as of , 199 .
ATTEST: COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
By _______________________ By ___________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
THE FIFTH THIRD BANK
By _______________________
Authorized Signature
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if
such holder desires to transfer the
Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED____________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and 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.
Dated:_______________ __, 199_
____________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Amended Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:_____________ __, 199_
________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed,
the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Amended Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an
Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued
in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder
desires to exercise Rights represented
by the Rights Certificate.)
To: COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
__________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Units
of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Company or of any other person or other property which may be
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such Units be issued in the name of and delivered to:
______________________________________
(Please print name and address)
______________________________________
Please insert social security or other identifying number:______________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
______________________________________
(Please print name and address)
______________________________________
Please insert social security or other identifying number: ____________________
Dated:_________________ __, 199_
______________________
Signature
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ]
are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an
Associate thereof (as defined in the Amended Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate from any person who is, was or subsequently became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated:_______________ __, 199_
____________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
--------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Election to Purchase and
Certificate must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States.
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed,
the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Amended Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an
Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificates issued
in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On May 27, 1988, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (the "Company")
entered into a stockholder rights agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and AmeriTrust Company National Association, as Rights Agent. Pursuant
to the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a
distribution of one right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common
Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Company Common Stock"), to stockholders
of record at the close of business on June 6, 1988 (the "Record Date") and for
each share of Company Common Stock issued (including shares distributed from
Treasury) by the Company thereafter and prior to the Distribution Date (as
defined below). On February 10, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized the renewal of the Rights Agreement which was due to expire on May
27, 1998. The Company entered into an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the
"Amended Rights Agreement"), dated as of May 11, 1998 (the "Renewal Date"),
between the Company and The Fifth Third Bank, as Rights Agent.
Each Right entitles the registered holder, subject to the terms
of the Amended Rights Agreement, to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth
of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $135 per Unit, subject to
adjustment. The Purchase Price is payable in cash, by certified check or bank
check, bank draft payable to the order of the Company, or by wire transfer of
immediately payable funds to the account of the Company (provided that a notice
of such wire transfer is given by the holder of the related Right to the Rights
Agent).
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the
Amended Rights Agreement. Copies of the Amended Rights Agreement and the
Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock attached as an exhibit
thereto, have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 15, 1998. Copies of the
Amended Rights Agreement and the Certificate of Designation are available free
of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights and the
Preferred Stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to all the provisions of the Amended Rights Agreement and the
Certificate of Designation, including the definitions therein of certain terms,
which Amended Rights Agreement and Certificate of Designation are incorporated
herein by reference.
The Amended Rights Agreement
The Rights will continue to attach to all certificates
representing shares of outstanding Company Common Stock, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Company
Common Stock and the "Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10
days following a public announcement (the date of such
<PAGE>
2
announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date") that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the
Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or such subsidiary) (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, obtained the right to acquire, or otherwise
obtained beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock, and (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender offer or
exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or
more of the then outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by Company Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Company Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Company Common Stock certificates issued after the
Renewal Date (also including shares distributed from Treasury) will contain a
notation incorporating the Amended Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the
surrender for transfer of any certificates representing outstanding Company
Common Stock will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Company Common Stock represented by such certificates.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the Amended
Rights Agreement unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of Company Common Stock as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate
Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation
in a merger with an Acquiring Person and shares of Company Common Stock shall
remain outstanding, (ii) a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (iii) an
Acquiring Person engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as set forth
in the Amended Rights Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an
Acquiring Person, an event occurs which results in such Acquiring Person's
ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., by means of a
recapitalization) (each such event being a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), then, in
each such case, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, Units of Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances,
Company Common Stock, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. The exercise price
is the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Units of Preferred Stock
issuable upon exercise of a Right prior to the events described in this
paragraph. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any
of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under
certain circumstances specified in the Amended Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction and the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a
merger described in the preceding paragraph),
<PAGE>
3
(ii) any Person consolidates or merges with the Company and all or part of the
Company Common Stock is converted or exchanged for securities, cash or property
of any other Person or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which
previously have been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the ultimate parent of the Acquiring
Person having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time
to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to the
holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness, cash or assets
(excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price
will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
Purchase Price. The Company is not required to issue fractional Units. In lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash may be made based on the market price of the
Preferred Stock prior to the date of exercise.
At any time until ten business days following the Stock
Acquisition Date, a majority of the Company's Board of Directors may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to
adjustment in certain events) (the "Redemption Price"), payable, at the election
of such majority of the Company's Board of Directors, in cash or shares of
Company Common Stock. Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price.
The Board of Directors, at its option, may exchange each Right
for (i) one Unit of Preferred Stock or (ii) such number of Units of Preferred
Stock as will equal (x) the difference between the aggregate market price of the
number of Units of Preferred Stock to be received upon a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
and the purchase price set forth in the Amended Rights Agreement, divided by (y)
the market price per Unit of Preferred Stock upon a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation,
the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the
Rights become exercisable for Units of Preferred Stock (or other consideration).
<PAGE>
4
Any of the provisions of the Amended Rights Agreement may be
amended without the approval of the holders of Company Common Stock at any time
prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of
the Amended Rights Agreement may be amended in order to cure any ambiguity,
defect or inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring
Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Amended Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
Description of Preferred Stock
The Units of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise
of the Rights will be non-redeemable and subordinate to any other shares of
preferred stock that may be issued by the Company.
Each Unit of Preferred Stock will have a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend rate of $.34 per Unit but will, in any event, be entitled to
a dividend equal to the per share dividend declared on the Company Common Stock.
In the event of liquidation, the holder of a Unit of Preferred
Stock will receive a preferred liquidation payment equal to the greater of $.01
per Unit or the per share amount paid in respect of a share of Company Common
Stock.
Each Unit of Preferred Stock will have one vote, voting together
with the Company Common Stock. The holders of Units of Preferred Stock, voting
as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect two directors if dividends on
the Preferred Stock are in arrears for six fiscal quarters.
In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which shares of Company Common Stock are exchanged, each Unit of Preferred
Stock will be entitled to receive the per share amount paid in respect of each
share of Company Common Stock.
The rights of holders of the Preferred Stock to dividends,
liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the economic value of one Unit of Preferred Stock
that may be acquired upon the exercise of each Right is expected to approximate
the economic value of one share of Company Common Stock.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF THE VOTING POWERS, DESIGNATION,
PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING,
OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS AND QUALIFICATIONS,
LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF THE
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
________________________
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware
________________________
We, Edward E. Brewer, Chairman of the Board and Ivan W. Gorr,
President of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"),
DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
that, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by its Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
"Certificate"), and, pursuant to the provisions of Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, said Board of Directors, at a duly
called meeting held on May 27, 1988, at which a quorum was present and acted
throughout, adopted the following resolutions, which resolutions remain in full
force and effect on the date hereof creating a series of 300,000 shares of
Preferred Stock having a par value of $1.00 per share, designated as Series A
Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") out of the class of 5,000,000
shares of preferred stock of the par value of $1.00 per share (the "Preferred
Stock"):
RESOLVED that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate, the Board of
Directors does hereby create, authorize and provide for the issuance of the
Series A Preferred Stock having the voting powers, designation, relative,
participating, optional and other special rights, preferences, and
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof that are set forth as
follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Preferred Stock" and the number of shares
constituting such series shall be 300,000.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions. (A) Subject to the
prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any other series of
Preferred Stock or any other shares of preferred stock of the Corporation
ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, each holder of one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share (a
"Unit") of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if
<PAGE>
2
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that
purpose, (i) quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last business day of
March, June and September and on the last business day of December preceding
December 25th in each year (each such date being a "Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of such Unit of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per Unit
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $.34 or (b) subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends declared on shares of 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 a Unit of
Series A Preferred Stock, and (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, quarterly distributions (payable in kind) on each
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date in an amount per Unit equal to the aggregate per
share amount 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 shares of
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 a Unit of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event that the
Corporation shall at any time after June 6, 1988 (the "Rights Declaration Date")
(i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii)
combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then
in each such case the amount to which the holder of a Unit of Series A Preferred
Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which shall be
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on Units of Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the shares of Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided,
however, that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared
on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $.34
per Unit on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and shall be cumulative on
each outstanding Unit of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issuance of such Unit of Series A
Preferred Stock, unless the date of issuance of such Unit is prior to the record
date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case, dividends on
such Unit shall begin to accrue from the date of issuance of such Unit, or
unless the date of issuance is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date
after the record date for the determination of holders of Units of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
<PAGE>
3
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on Units of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less
than the aggregate amount of all such dividends at the time accrued and payable
on such Units shall be allocated pro rata on a unit-by-unit basis among all
Units of Series A Preferred Stock at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of Units of
Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days
prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of Units of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
Unit of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on
all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i)
declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the number of votes per Unit to which holders of Units of Series
A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of Units
of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote
together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the
Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Units of Series A Preferred
Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon,
then during the period (a "default period") from the occurrence of such event
until such time as all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly
dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all Units of
Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or
set apart for payment, all holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a class, shall have the right to elect two Directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting rights of the holders of
Units of Series A Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special
meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any
annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of
stockholders, provided that neither such voting rights nor any right of the
holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock to increase, in certain cases, the
authorized number of Directors may be exercised at any meeting unless one-third
of the outstanding Units of Preferred Stock shall be present at such meeting in
person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall
not affect the exercise by the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock of
such rights. At any meeting at which the holders of Units of
<PAGE>
4
Series A Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting rights initially during an
existing default period, they shall have the right, voting separately as a
class, to elect Directors to fill up to two vacancies in the Board of Directors,
if any such vacancies may then exist, or, if such right is exercised at an
annual meeting, to elect two Directors. If the number which may be so elected at
any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the
Series A Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the
number of Directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the
required number. After the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall
have exercised their right to elect Directors during any default period, the
number of Directors shall not be increased or decreased except as approved by a
vote of the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock as herein provided or
pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to the Series A
Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall, during an
existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect
Directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders
owning in the aggregate not less than 25% of the total number of Units of Series
A Preferred Stock outstanding may request, the calling of a special meeting of
the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon
be called by the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any
annual meeting at which holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock are
entitled to vote pursuant to this paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each
holder of record of Units of Series A Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such
notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the
Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 20 days
and not later then 60 days after such order or request or in default of the
calling of such meeting within 60 days after such order or request, such meeting
may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the
aggregate not less than 25% of the total number of outstanding Units of Series A
Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (C)(iii), no
such special meeting shall be called during the 60 days immediately preceding
the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) During any default period, the holders of shares of Common Stock
and Units of Series A Preferred Stock, and other classes or series of stock of
the Corporation, if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect all the
Directors until the holders of the Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
exercised their right to elect two Directors voting as a separate class, after
the exercise of which right (x) the Directors so elected by the holders of Units
of Series A Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors
shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default
period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in
paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the
remaining Directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of capital
stock which elected the Director whose office shall have become vacant.
References in this paragraph (C) to Directors elected by the holders of a
particular class of capital stock shall include Directors elected by such
Directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right
of the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock as a separate class to elect
Directors shall cease, (y) the
<PAGE>
5
term of any Directors elected by the holders of Units of Series A Preferred
Stock as a separate class shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall
be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate or by-laws irrespective
of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (C)(ii) of this
Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any
manner provided by law or in the Certificate or by-laws). Any vacancies in the
Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the
preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.
(vi) The provisions of this paragraph (C) shall govern the election of
Directors by holders of Units of Preferred Stock during any default period
notwithstanding any provisions of the Certificate to the contrary, including,
without limitation, the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Certificate.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Units of Series A
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
Shares 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 Units of Series A
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
outstanding Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of junior stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other
distributions on any shares of parity stock, except dividends paid
ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of all such
parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion
to the total amounts to which the holders of such Units and all such
shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any parity stock, provided, however, that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any junior
stock;
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any Units
of Series A 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 Units.
(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
<PAGE>
6
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 Units of Series A 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 Units shall, upon their cancellation, become authorized but unissued
Units of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon
any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made (i) to the holders of shares of
junior stock unless the holders of Units of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
received, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided in paragraph (B), the
greater of either (a) $.01 per Unit plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not earned or declared, to the
date of such payment, or (b) the amount equal to the aggregate per share amount
to be distributed to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (ii) to the holders
of shares of parity stock, unless simultaneously therewith distributions are
made ratably on Units of Series A Preferred Stock and all other shares of such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of Units of
Series A Preferred Stock are entitled under clause (i)(a) of this sentence and
to which the holders of shares of such parity stock are entitled, in each case
upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
(B) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on outstanding shares of Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of
Common Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders
of Units of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such
event pursuant to clause (i)(b) of paragraph (A) of this Section 6 shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which shall be 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 converted into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case Units of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or
converted into an amount per Unit (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 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 converted or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any
dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide outstanding shares of
<PAGE>
7
Common Stock, or (iii) combine outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the immediately preceding
sentence with respect to the exchange or conversion of Units of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that are
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which shall be
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
Section 8. Redemption. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock
shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Units of Series A Preferred Stock
shall rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock and to any other
class of preferred stock that hereafter may be issued by the Corporation as to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any
such series or class shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. The Certificate, including, without
limitation, this resolution, shall not hereafter be amended, either directly or
indirectly, or through merger or consolidation with another corporation in any
manner that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of
the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding Units
of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. The Series A Preferred Stock
may be issued in Units or other fractions of a share, which Units or fractions
shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to
exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to
have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 12. Certain Definitions. As used herein with respect
to the Series A Preferred Stock, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(A) The term "Common Stock" shall mean the class of stock
designated as the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation at
the date hereof or any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or
reclassifications of the common stock.
(B) The term "junior stock" (i) as used in Section 4, shall
mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the
Corporation hereafter authorized or issued over which the Series A Preferred
Stock has preference or priority as to the payment of dividends and (ii) as used
in Section 6 shall mean the Common Stock and any other class or series of
capital stock of the Corporation over which the Series A Preferred Stock has
preference or priority in the distribution of assets on any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
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8
(C) The term "parity stock" (i) as used in Section 4, shall
mean any class or series of stock of the Corporation hereafter authorized or
issued ranking pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends and
(ii) as used in Section 6, shall mean any class or series of capital stock
ranking pari passu with the Preferred Stock in the distribution of assets or any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has caused
this Certificate to be signed by its Chairman of the Board and its President and
attested by its Secretary this __ day of May, 1988.
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
ATTEST:
By _______________________ By ___________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
ATTEST:
By _______________________ By ___________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
[FORM OF PRESS RELEASE]
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY RENEWS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
PLAN
NEW YORK -- May 15, 1998, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB)
announced today that its Board of Directors has renewed the Company's
stockholder rights plan designed to protect its stockholders from unsolicited,
coercive takeover proposals.
A new amended and restated plan was adopted in the normal course of
updating and extending the predecessor stockholder rights plan, which was
scheduled to expire on May 27, 1998, and not in response to any acquisition
proposal. The expiration date of the rights plan has been extended to May 11,
2008.
The amended plan reflects prevailing stockholder rights plan terms. The
share ownership level which triggers the exercise of the rights and the flip-in
and flip-over features of the rights plan has been lowered to 15% and the
independent director provision in the predecessor rights plan has been omitted
from the amended plan.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, was
founded in 1914, and specializes in the manufacturing and marketing of tires and
inner tubes for the automotive aftermarket and components in the categories of
vibration control, hoses, and body and window seals for original equipment
automotive manufacturers.
