SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
United States Filter Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 33-0266015
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(State of Incorporation or Organization) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
40-004 Cook Street, Palm Desert, CA 92211
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which each class is
to be so registered to be registered
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Preferred Stock Purchase New York Stock Exchange
Rights
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
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(Title of Class)
Exhibit Index is on Page 9
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
On November 12, 1998, the Board of Directors of United States
Filter Corporation (the "Company") declared, subject to certain conditions
which were satisfied on November 27, 1998, a dividend distribution of one
Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock to stockholders of record
at the close of business on November 27, 1998 (the "Record Date"). Each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-
thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.10 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $80,
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company
and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common
Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) ten (10)
days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the
right to acquire, beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"),
other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company, or (ii) ten
(10) business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would
result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record
Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant
to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to
the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any
exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on November 27, 2008, unless earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the
separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as
otherwise determined by the Board, only shares of Common Stock issued prior
to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that a person becomes an Acquiring Person (except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock that the
independent directors determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders), each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, at the option of the
Board of Directors, (i) Common Stock, (ii) one one-thousandth of a share of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, the issuance of which has
been preapproved by the Commission, and/or (ii) cash, property or other
securities of the Company, each of (i), (ii) and (iii) having a value equal
to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person
will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the
occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the Rights are
no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $80 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $160 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted
above) for $80. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$20 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to
purchase 8 shares of Common Stock for $80.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other
than a merger which follows an offer described in the second preceding
paragraph), or (ii) fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company's assets,
cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of
the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole
or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
At any time until ten (10) days following the Stock Acquisition
Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board). Redemption of the Rights
may also occur after November 27, 2000 through a stockholder referendum if
the Company receives a qualifying offer from a person owning less than 5%
of the Common Stock. Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering
redemption of the Rights or the effectiveness of the redemption of Rights
pursuant to the stockholder referendum, the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption
price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the
distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the
Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize
taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common
Stock, Preferred Stock or other consideration of the Company or for common
stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to
cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment may be
made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
The independent directors will review the Rights Plan by the
second, fifth and eighth anniversary of the Rights Plan and make
recommendations to the Board regarding the advisability of the continued
maintenance of the Rights Plan and propose any amendments to the Rights
Plan that the independent directors may deem appropriate or desirable.
As of September 30, 1998, there were 170,275,000 shares of Common
Stock of the Company outstanding and 119,129 shares of Common Stock of the
Company in the treasury. As of September 30, 1998, options to purchase
8,686,602 shares of Common Stock were outstanding. Each share of Common
Stock of the Company outstanding at the close of business on November 27,
1998, will receive one Right. So long as the Rights are attached to the
Common Stock, one additional Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant
to the provisions of the Rights Agreement) shall be deemed to be delivered
for each share of Common Stock issued or transferred by the Company in the
future. In addition, following the Distribution Date and prior to the
expiration or redemption of the Rights, the Company may issue Rights when
it issues Common Stock only if the Board deems it to be necessary or
appropriate, or in connection with the issuance of shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under employee plans or upon
the exercise, conversion or exchange of certain securities of the Company.
300,000 shares of Preferred Stock are initially reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the Rights.
The Rights may have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights
will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to
acquire the Company in a manner which causes the Rights to become discount
Rights unless the offer is conditional on a substantial number of Rights
being acquired. The Rights, however, should not affect any prospective
offeror willing to make an offer at a fair price and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders as determined by a majority
of the Directors who are not affiliated with the person making the offer,
or willing to negotiate with the Board. The Rights should not interfere
with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board since
the Board may, at its option, (i) at any time prior to the Distribution
Date, amend the Rights Agreement, or (ii) at any time until ten days
following the Stock Acquisition Date redeem all but not less than all the
then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price.
The Rights Agreement, dated as of November 27, 1998, between the
Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, specifying the terms of
the Rights and including the form of the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights, the press release announcing the declaration of the
Rights and a form of letter to the Company's stockholders describing the
Rights are attached hereto as exhibits and are incorporated herein by
reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such exhibits.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 27, 1998, between United
States Filter Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Rights
Agent, including the form of the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights setting forth the terms of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share,
as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the
Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock as Exhibit C.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, printed Rights Certificates
will not be mailed until after the Distribution Date (as such
term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
2 Press Release of the Company, dated November 27, 1998.
3 Form of letter to the Company's stockholders describing the
Rights.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION
Date: December 2,1998 By: /s/ Damian C. Georgino
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Name: Damian C. Georgino
Title: Executive Vice Presi
dent, General Coun
sel, and Corporate
Secretary
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Description
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1 Rights Agreement, dated as of
November 27, 1998, between
United States Filter corporation
and The Bank of New York, as
Rights Agent, including the form
of Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights setting
forth the terms of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $.10 per share,
as Exhibit A, the form of Rights
Certificate as Exhibit B and the
Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock as Exhibit C.
Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, printed Rights
Certificates will not be mailed
until after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement).
2 Press Release of the Company,
dated November 27, 1998.
3 Form of letter to the Company's
stockholders describing the
Rights.
EXHIBIT 1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
between
UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION
and
The Bank of New York,
as Rights Agent
Dated as of November 27, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section Page
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1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. Issuance of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4. Form of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights . . 15
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . 19
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . . 19
10. Preferred Stock Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares . . . . 35
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets, Cash Flow or
Earning Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
16. Agreement of Rights Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
Stockholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . . . . 44
20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
23. Redemption and Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
24. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
25. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
27. Supplements and Amendments; Independent Director Review . . . . . 58
28. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. . . . . 59
30. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
31. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
33. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
34. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A -- Form of Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights
Exhibit B -- Form of Rights Certificates
Exhibit C -- Form of Summary of Rights
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 27, 1998 (the
"Agreement"), between United States Filter Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York, a Delaware
corporation (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on November 12, 1998, the Board of Directors of the
Company authorized and declared, subject to certain conditions which were
satisfied on November 27, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), a
dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share
of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common
Stock") outstanding at the close of business on December 11, 1998 (the
"Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section
11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between
the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's
treasury) and the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) each Right
initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (the
"Preferred Stock") having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in
the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached
hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of
the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company, or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan,
(iv) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%)
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a
reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the
repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company unless and until such
Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the Beneficial
Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock, acquires beneficial ownership of additional shares of Common
Stock representing one percent (1%) or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, or (v) any such Person who has reported or is required to
report such ownership (but less than 15%) on Schedule 13G under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date
of the Agreement (the "Exchange Act") (or any comparable or successor
report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or
reserve the right to control or influence the management or policies of the
Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such
schedule (other than the disposition of the Common Stock) and, within 10
Business Days of being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the
same, certifies to the Company that such Person acquired shares of Common
Stock in excess of 14.9% inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of
the Rights and who, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter
does not acquire additional shares of Common Stock while the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding;
provided, however, that if the Person requested to so certify fails to do
so within 10 Business Days, then such Person shall become an Acquiring
Person immediately after such 10-Business-Day period.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," (A) securities
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, (B) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence
of a Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined), or (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date
(as hereinafter defined) or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to
vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, whether or not in writing; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a
result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises
solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, and (B) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D
under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting
(except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting
securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this
paragraph (d) shall cause a Person engaged in business as an
underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until
the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition, and
then only if such securities continue to be owned by such Person at
such expiration of forty days and provided further, however, that any
stockholder of the Company, with affiliate(s), associate(s) or other
person(s) who may be deemed representatives of it serving as
director(s) of the Company, shall not be deemed to beneficially own
securities held by other Persons as a result of (i) persons affiliated
or otherwise associated with such stockholder serving as directors or
taking any action in connection therewith, (ii) discussing the status
of its shares with the Company or other stockholders of the Company
similarly situated or (iii) voting or acting in a manner similar to
other stockholders similarly situated, absent a specific finding by
the Board of Directors of an express agreement among such stockholders
to act in concert with one another as stockholders so as to cause, in
the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, each such
stockholder to be the Beneficial Owner of the shares held by the other
stockholder(s).
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., New York City time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock
of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or
other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of
such Person.
(h) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(i) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(j) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(k) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(l) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934.
(n) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24 hereof.
(o) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(p) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
(q) "Offer" shall mean a written proposal delivered to the
Company by any Person (x) who, together with all Affiliates and Associates
of such Person, beneficially owns less than 5% (the "Threshold Amount") of
the outstanding Common Stock as of the date such proposal is delivered and
(y) who, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, has
not within one year prior to the delivery of such written proposal
beneficially owned 5% or more of the then outstanding Common Stock of the
Company and (at a time when such Person beneficially owned such 5% or
greater stake) disclosed, or caused the disclosure of, any intention which
relates to or would result in the acquisition, or influence of control, of
the Company (an "Offeror"), and which proposal:
(i) provides for the acquisition of all of the
outstanding shares of each class or series of Voting Stock (as
hereinafter defined) held by any Person other than the Offeror and its
Affiliates for cash, with all shares of any particular class or series
of Voting Stock to be acquired at the same price;
(ii) is accompanied by a written opinion of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm, which opinion is
addressed to the holders of shares of Voting Stock other than the
Offeror and its Affiliates and states that the price to be paid to the
holders (other than the Offeror and its Affiliates) of each individual
class or series of Voting Stock pursuant to the Offer is fair to such
holders;
(iii) states that the Offeror has obtained written
financing commitments from recognized financing sources, and/or has on
hand cash or cash equivalents, for the full amount of all financing
necessary to consummate the Offer; and
(iv) requests the Company to call a special meeting of
the holders of Voting Stock for the purpose of voting on a resolution
requesting the Board of Directors to accept such Offer and contains a
written agreement of the Offeror to pay (or share with any other
Offeror) at least one-half of the Company's costs of such special
meeting (exclusive of the Company's costs of preparing and mailing
proxy material for its own solicitation).
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company,
and, to the extent that there are not a sufficient number of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full
exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the Company
designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the
terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(v) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(w) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(x) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(y) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
parties clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(z) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(aa) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(bb) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(cc) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(dd) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d)
under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.
(ff) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect
at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by
such Person.
(gg) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(hh) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b) hereof.
(ii) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(jj) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or any Section 13 Event.
(kk) "Voting Stock" means (i) the Common Stock and (ii) any
other shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors or entitled to vote together with the Common
Stock in respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby
appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts
such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights
agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the
Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business
on the Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business
Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine) after the date that a
tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed
or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-
2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would become an Acquiring Person, in
either instance other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer (the earlier of
(i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the
Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of
this Section 3) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the
names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common
Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by
separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock
(including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date (as identified by the transfer
agent for the Common Stock), at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more right certificates, in substantially
the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one
Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as
provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights
per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof,
at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall
make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with
Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole
numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will
be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) The Company will make available, as promptly as
practicable following the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of
Rights") to any holder Rights who may so request from time to time prior to
the Expiration Date. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the
registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders
of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or
the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in Section 7(a) hereof), the
transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in respect
of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the
Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of
Common Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the
Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights,
and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement
between United States Filter Corporation (the "Company") and the
Rights Agent thereunder (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of
which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement,
as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge, promptly
after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued
to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on
behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become
null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until
the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the
Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates
shall be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of
Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights,
and the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each
be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may have
such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be
required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation
made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange
on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to
usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the
Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record
Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set
forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one
one-thousandths of a share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type
of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase
Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a),
Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant
to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or
to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a
transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or
effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in
this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may
become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section
7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of
the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice
President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have
affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be
attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile
signature, and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the
Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by
the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same
force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates
had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at
the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at
the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not
such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep, or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as
the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates
issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the
respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights
evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of
each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e)
and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the
Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights
Certificates representing Rights that may have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder
to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or
Certificates surrendered then entitles such holder (or former holder in the
case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to
transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or
Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates
or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14
hereof and Section 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or
destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable
expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will
execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights
Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of
the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after the
Distribution Date the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein
including, without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth
in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or
in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election
to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed,
to the Rights Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate
Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one one-thousandths of a
share (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to
which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the
earlier of (i) 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on November 27, 2008, or such
later date as may be established by the Board of Directors prior to the
expiration of the Rights (such date, as it may be extended by the Board,
the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed or exchanged as provided in Section 23 and Section 24 hereof (the
earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall
initially be $80.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in Section 11 and Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the
certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each
Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share
of Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as
the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to
any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased
and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply
with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit
the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary
agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii)
requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu
of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after
receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or, upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The
payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check
or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the
Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of
the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such
other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution
by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the
right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that, upon
any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon
the order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the
provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the
Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person
(or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration)
from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring
Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or
(B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined
is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary
purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and
void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision
of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b)
hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of
Rights Certificates or any other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the
occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless
such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate
contained in the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side
of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided
such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.
All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer,
split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or
any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled
by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The
Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement,
and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights
Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the
exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the
Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to
be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out
of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other
securities or out of its authorized and issued shares held in its
treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
that, as provided in this Agreement including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,
will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on
any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to
cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all
shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by
the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance
with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on
an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as
of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B)
the date of the expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such
action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the
securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the
exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a
period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in
clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability
of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and
permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall
issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such
time as the suspension has been rescinded. In addition, if the Company
shall determine that a registration statement is required following the
Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability
of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared
effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained,
the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law, or a
registration statement shall not have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized
and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company
shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a
Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of the
registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered
for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid
(any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose
name any certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may
be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed
to have become the holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon
which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is
a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares
(fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights
shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to
receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive
rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings
of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of
shares covered by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the 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) and Section 7(e) hereof, the
Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock
or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares
of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if
such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a
time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open,
such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person shall, at any time after
the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person,
unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is
a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is an acquisition
of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on
terms determined by at least a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not
representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders and not
inadequate (taking into account all factors which such members of the
Board deem relevant, including, without limitation, prices which could
reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an
orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (a "Qualified
Offer")
then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper provision
shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and
in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that
product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be
referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of
this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common
Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, but which are not outstanding or reserved for issuance
for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights, are not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
Company shall (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value"), and (B)
with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the
exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1)
cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other
equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock, such as the Preferred
Stock, which the Board has deemed to have essentially the same value
or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred
stock being referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt
securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of
the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value
(less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such
aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to
the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes
of the preceding sentence, the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of
(i) the Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board
determines in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise
in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may
be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90)
days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the
Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares, such thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended,
is herein called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that
action is to be taken pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of
this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (1) shall provide, subject to
Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to
seek such stockholder approval for such authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value
thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue
a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at
such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of
this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share shall be
the current market price per share of the Common Stock on the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any
Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to equal the current market
price per share of the Common Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or
shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of
Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible
into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of
Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock
or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Market Price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or
Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall
be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent
Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which
the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration, part
or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such
consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or
held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the
purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than
Preferred Stock) or evidences of indebtedness, or of subscription rights or
warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined
by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current
Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so
to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to
a share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such
Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the
Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately
prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Market Price per share of
Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of
the Common Stock is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common
Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock
(other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for
such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such
subdivision, combination or reclassification shall not have occurred
prior to the commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or
ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each
such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day
shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if
the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on
the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common
Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if
on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common
Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The
term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is
not publicly held or not so listed or traded, Current Market Price per
share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined
in the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause
(i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If
the Current Market Price per share of 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
1,000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as
stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to
the Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement)
multiplied by the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock.
If neither the Common Stock nor the 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 the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Market
Price of a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock shall be equal to the Current Market Price of one
share of Preferred Stock divided by 1,000.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment
would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of
this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and
taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under
this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-
thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of a
share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first
sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11
shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the
date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the
Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock
other than 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), (e), (g), (h), (i),
(j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof
with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such
other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent
to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as
provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price,
that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
(calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately
prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the
product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of
any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights
outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to
adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment,
and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This
record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any
day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be
at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If
Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of
Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as
practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company,
shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the
date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company,
new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the
adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the
holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in
the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase
Price per one one-thousandth of a share and the number of one one-
thousandth of a share which were expressed in the initial Rights
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the
number of one one-thousandths of a share 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 fully paid and nonassessable such number of
one one-thousandths of a share 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 the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon
such exercise over and above the number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in
effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall
deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument
evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares
(fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in
the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by
this Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the
Board of Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order
that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the 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 stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at
any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary
to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related
transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50%
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or
any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such
consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person
who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of
Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section
24 or Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action
if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such
action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i)
declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share
of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but
prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that
the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock
following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately
prior to such event by a fraction the numerator which shall be the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the
occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and
Section 13 hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate
setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting
for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each
transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such
certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief
summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with
Section 27 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on
any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets,
Cash Flow or Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge
with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation
or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate
with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other
property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or
more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person
or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one
or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof),
then, and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d)
hereof), proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a
Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of
validly authorized and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely
tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is
hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of
first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number
of one one-thousandths of a share 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 one one-
thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence), and dividing that
product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall
be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes
of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current Market Price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii)
such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply
only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13
Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may
be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of
Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and
(v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect
following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is
the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in
clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is
the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets, cash flow or
earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such
Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding
twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the
Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party"
shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a
Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common
Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal
Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common
Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued
or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and
such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent
a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger or sale of assets
mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under
the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its
best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain
effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Act) until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) take such all such other action as may be
necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to
the registration or qualification of such securities under all
requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the various states and
the listing of such securities on such exchanges and trading markets
as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a
Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall
thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is
consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock which is a Qualified Offer as such term is defined in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly owned subsidiary of any such Person or
Persons), (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered in such
transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to
all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant
to such tender offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration
being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant
to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant
to such tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such
transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall
expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional
Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For
purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right
shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise
issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the
principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-
counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or,
if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights, selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is
making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock).
In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company
may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such
Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market
value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-
thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common
Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one (1) share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value
of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of
Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this
Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect
of this Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock),
without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common
Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company
to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy
at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against
actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person
subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a
Right by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the
Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer
and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the
Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership
or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent,
subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to
be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability
to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such
order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities
of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the
Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the
Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to
time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel
fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the
administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify
the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability,
or expense (including reasonable attorney's fees), incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights
Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with
the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs
and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon
any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons or, so long as the Rights
Agent is not the transfer agent for the Common Stock, for the accuracy or
timely delivery of the registration records of the holders of the Common
Stock provided by the transfer agent for the Common Stock.
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, stock transfer or other
shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part
of any of the parties hereto; but only if such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions
of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor
Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall
be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such
Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided
in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes
the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company) at the expense of the Company, and the
opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in
good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the
President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the
Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the
Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the
provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its
own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in
the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility
in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect
of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by
the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in
any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment
required under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24
hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such
adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged
and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances
as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or
performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from the Chairman of the Board, the 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.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer
or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights
or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude
the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for
any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall
not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or
misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company
resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided,
however, reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued
employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the
exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing
that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered
to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to
the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be,
has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to
clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further
action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first
consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under
this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the
Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred
Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such resignation occurs
after the Distribution Date, to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be,
and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by
registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the
Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise
become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the
Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it
has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a legal business
entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the State of New York or of any other state of the United States, in
good standing, having an office in the State of New York, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer or
shareholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b)
an affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause (a) of this
sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights
Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock,
and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, mail a notice
thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to
the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors
to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or
kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under
the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares
of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption
or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares
of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options
or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the
Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other
case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of
Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that
(i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the
Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of
business on the tenth day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all 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 hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not
be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.
The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of
Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section
11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any
other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
(b)(i) In the event that after November 27, 2000 the
Company receives an Offer from any Offeror, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall call a special meeting of stockholders (the "Special
Meeting") for the purpose of voting on a precatory resolution
requesting the Board of Directors to accept such Offer, as such Offer
may be amended or revised by the Offeror from time to time to increase
the price per share in cash to be paid to holders of shares of Voting
Stock (the "Resolution"). The Special Meeting shall be held on a date
selected by the Board of Directors, which date shall be not less than
90 and not more than 120 days after the later of (A) the date such
Offer is received by the Company (the "Offer Date") and (B) the date
of any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders to be held within
60 days after the Offer Date; provided, however, that if (x) such
other meeting shall have been called for the purpose of voting on a
precatory resolution with respect to another Offer and (y) the Offer
Date shall be not later than fifteen days after the date such other
Offer was received by the Company, then both the Resolution and such
other resolution shall be voted on at such meeting and such meeting
shall be deemed to be the Special Meeting. The Board of Directors
shall set a date for determining the stockholders of record entitled
to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting in accordance with the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and with applicable
law. At the Offeror's request, the Company shall include in any proxy
soliciting material prepared by it in connection with the Special
Meeting proxy soliciting material submitted by the Offeror; provided,
however, that the Offeror shall by written agreement with the Company
contained in or delivered with such request have indemnified the
Company against any and all liabilities resulting from any
misstatements, misleading statements and omissions contained in the
Offeror's proxy soliciting material and have agreed to pay the
Company's incremental costs incurred as a result of including such
material in the Company's proxy soliciting material. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Special Meeting shall be required to be held from
and after such time as the Offeror, together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Offeror, increases his beneficial ownership above
the Threshold Amount or any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, and
any Special Meeting scheduled prior to such time and not theretofore
held shall be cancelled.
(ii) If at the Special Meeting the Resolution receives
the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Voting Stock
outstanding as of the record date of the Special Meeting which are not
beneficially owned by the Offeror and all Affiliates and Associates of
such Offeror, then all of the Rights shall be redeemed without further
action by the Board of Directors at the Redemption Price, effective
immediately prior to the consummation of any tender offer (provided
that such tender offer is consummated prior to 60 days after the date
of the Special Meeting) pursuant to which any Person offers to
purchase all of the shares of Voting Stock held by Persons other than
such Person and its Affiliates at a price per share in cash equal to
or greater than the price contained in the Resolution approved at the
Special Meeting; provided, however, that the Rights shall not be
redeemed at any time from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person.
(iii) Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be
deemed to be in derogation of the obligation of the Board of Directors
of the Company to exercise its fiduciary duty. Without limiting the
foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be construed to suggest or
imply that the Board of Directors shall not be entitled to reject any
Offer, or to recommend that holders of shares of Voting Stock reject
any tender offer, or to take any other action (including, without
limitation, the commencement, prosecution, defense or settlement of
any litigation and the submission of additional or alternative Offers
or other proposals to the Special Meeting) with respect to any Offer
or any tender offer that the Board of Directors believes is necessary
or appropriate in the exercise of such fiduciary duty.
(iv) Nothing in this paragraph (b) shall be construed
as limiting or prohibiting the Company or any Offeror from proposing
or engaging, at any time, in any acquisition, disposition or other
transfer of any securities of the Company, any merger or consolidation
involving the Company, any sale or other transfer of assets of the
Company, any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, or
any other business combination or other transaction, or any other
action by the Company or such Offeror; provided, however, that the
holders of Rights shall have the rights set forth in this Agreement
with respect to any such acquisition, disposition, transfer, merger,
consolidation, sale, liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, business
combination, transaction or action.
(c) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a)
of this Section 23 or the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 23,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. The Company shall promptly give
notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each
holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method
by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange
all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not
include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section
7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding
Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of 50% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a)
of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice,
the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right
thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such
holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to
give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such
exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to
all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in
the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder
receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by
which the exchange of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in
the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the
Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or Equivalent
Preferred Stock, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of Section 11
hereof) for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of
one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred
Stock) for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect
stock splits, stock dividends and other similar transactions after the date
hereof.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares
of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this
Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of
the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of
Common Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock
would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock. For the
purposes of this subsection (e), the current market value of a whole share
of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (as
determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for
the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to
the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend
out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (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, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock),
or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more
than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than
the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each
of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of
such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on
which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if
any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case
of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other
action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
shares of Preferred Stock whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon
as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to
the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred
Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as
follows:
United States Filter Corporation
40-004 Cook Street
Palm Desert, California 92211
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by
this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as
follows:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay 11 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Receive and Deliver
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights
Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of
the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments; Independent Director
Review. (a) Prior to the Distribution Date, and subject to the penultimate
sentence of this Section 27, the Company may and the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of
Common Stock. From and after the Distribution Date, 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, this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time
period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the
Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the
rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the
delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the
terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or
amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of
Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this
Agreement may not be amended at a time the Rights are not redeemable.
(b) Within 90 days of the second, fifth and eighth
anniversaries of the adoption of this Rights Plan, the members of the Board
of Directors, or a committee thereof, who are not officers of the Company
and who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an
Acquiring Person or an Offeror (the "Independent Directors") shall review
this Agreement and make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding
the advisability of the continued maintenance of this Agreement and propose
any amendments to this Agreement that they may deem appropriate or
desirable, subject to the provisions of Section 27(a) hereof.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of
this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent
shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and
assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of
Directors, etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial
Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-
3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of
this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the
Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions
with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good
faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board or any of the directors on the Board to any liability to
the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common
Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement;
but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of
the Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or
restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its
good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement
would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right
of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall
not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date
of such determination by the Board of Directors. Without limiting the
foregoing, if any provision requiring a specific group of Directors of the
Company to act is held to by any court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, such determination shall
then be made by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with
applicable law and the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such
State, except that the rights and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be
governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes
be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the
provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: UNITED STATES FILTER
CORPORATION
By /s/ Damian C. Georgino By /s/ Richard J. Heckmann
------------------------- -----------------------
Name: Damian C. Georgino Name: Richard J. Heckmann
Title: Secretary Title: Chief Executive
Officer
Attest: THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By /s/ Steve Myers By /s/ Frank Lado
---------------------- ----------------------------
Name: Steve Myers Name: Frank Lado
Title: Assistant Treasurer Title: Assistant Vice
President
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND
RIGHTS OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
We, Richard J. Heckmann, Chairman of the Board, and Damian C.
Georgino, Secretary, of United States Filter Corporation, a corporation
organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DO
HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on November 12, 1998, adopted the
following resolution creating a series of three hundred thousand
(300,000)shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, a series of Preferred
Stock of the Corporation be and it hereby is created, and that the
designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and
relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of
such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof
are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be three hundred
thousand (300,000).
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to
the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board
of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth day of March, June, September
and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per
share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $.01 or (b)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock
or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after November 27,
1998 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the
Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);
provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been
declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, a dividend of $.01 per share on the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from
the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of
such shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the
date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the
date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and
before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such
dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends
at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata
on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled
to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which
record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting
rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a
vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any
dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide
the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock
into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes
per share to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders
of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal
to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such
contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a
"default period") which shall extend until such time when all accrued
and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and
for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been
declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default
period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in
arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon,
voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to
elect two (2) directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of
the holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock may
be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to
subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting
of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of
stockholders, provided that neither such voting right nor the
right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if
any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of
directors shall be exercised unless the holders of ten percent
(10%) in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be
present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the
holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the
holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting
at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such
voting right initially during an existing default period, they
shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to
fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may
then exist up to two (2) directors or, if such right is exercised
at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) directors. If the number
which may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to
the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall
have the right to make such increase in the number of directors
as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the
required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall
have exercised their right to elect directors in any default
period and during the continuance of such period, the number of
directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of
the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to
the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari
passu with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall,
during an existing default period, have previously exercised
their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order,
or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not
less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request,
the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred
Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the President,
a Vice-President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of
such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of
Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph
(C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of 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 than 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
ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called
during the period within 60 days immediately preceding the date
fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common
Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if
applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole
number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall
have exercised their right to elect two (2) directors voting as a
class, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so
elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in
office until their successors shall have been elected by such
holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y)
any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in
Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a
majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the
holders of the class of stock which elected the director whose
office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph
(C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of
stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill
vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a
class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any
directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class
shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such
number as may be provided for in the certificate of incorporation
or by-laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the
provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number
being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner
provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by
the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence
may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their
consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any
other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that
the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of
any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by
publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors,
after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and
other relative rights and preferences of the respective series
and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair
and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph
(A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such
time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the
Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled
promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their
cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and
may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon
any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $1,000
per share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal
to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not
declared, to the date of such payment (the "Series A Liquidation
Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an
amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained
by dividing (i) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as
appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect
such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with
respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment
Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and
Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their
ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed
in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to 1 with respect to such Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference
and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if
any, which rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to
the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there are not
sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or
(iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to
such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation
shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other
transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or
changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property,
then in any such case the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount
per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth)
equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare
any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred
Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless
the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation nor this Certificate of
Designation shall be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately
as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle
the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise
voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have
the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this
Certificate and do affirm the foregoing as true under the penalties of
perjury this [__] day of [________], 1998.
-----------------------------------
Chairman of the Board
Attest:
-------------------------
Secretary
Exhibit B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 27, 2008 UNLESS EXTENDED PRIOR THERETO BY
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS
ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT
ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH
RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN
THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
-------------------
*
The portion of the legend
inserted only if applicable and shall replace the
preceding sentence.
Rights Certificate
UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION
This certifies that , or registered assigns,
is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of
which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 27, 1998 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between United States Filter Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of New York, a Delaware
corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time
prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on November 27, 2008 (unless such
date is extended prior thereto by the Board of Directors) at the office or
offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors
as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of
the Company, at a purchase price of $80 per one one-thousandth of a share
(the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate
duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
(and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set
forth above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the
number and Purchase Price as of December 11, 1998, based on the Preferred
Stock as constituted at such date. The Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number of Rights be exercised so
that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring
Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such
transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder
hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the
occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may
be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening
of certain events, including Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions
and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full
description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of
the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary
suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights
Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and
are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights
Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing
Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled
such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in
part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option
at a redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of
the close of business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition
Date (as such time period may be extended pursuant to the Rights
Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration Date. In addition, under certain
circumstances following the Stock Acquisition Date, the Rights may be
exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of the Common Stock, or shares
of preferred stock of the Company having essentially the same value or
economic rights as such shares. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company authorizing any such exchange, and without any
further action or any notice, the Rights (other than Rights which are not
subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights will only enable
holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.
No fractional shares of 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-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any
time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in
the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder
hereof, as such, any of the rights of a 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 consent to or withhold
consent from any corporate action, or, to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have
been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _________ __, ____
ATTEST: UNITED STATES FILTER
CORPORATION
---------------------- By ----------------------------
Secretary Title:
Countersigned:
The Bank of New York
By ------------------------
Authorized Signature
[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: __________________, _____
-----------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _______________, _____ ___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares
be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
___________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
___________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Dated: _______________, _____
__________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate
boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ]
are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ______________, _____ __________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and
Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this
Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit C
---------
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On November 12, 1998, the Board of Directors of United States
Filter Corporation (the "Company") declared, subject to certain conditions
which were satisfied on November 27, 1998, a dividend distribution of one
Right for each outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of
record at the close of business on December 11, 1998 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company a
unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Series
A Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $80 per Unit, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified
in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and
a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a
public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition
Date"), other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company or
certain inadvertent actions by institutional or certain other stockholders
or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would
result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record
Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. Pursuant
to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to
the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any
exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on November 27, 2008, unless
such date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by
the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the
separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock
issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors determine to be fair and not inadequate to and to
otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms (a
"Qualified Offer"), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right
to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances,
cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to
two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person
will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the
occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the Rights are
no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $80 per Right, each Right
not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $160 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted
above) for $80. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$20 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to
purchase 8 shares of Common Stock for $80.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other
than with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a Qualified
Offer), (ii) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the
Common Stock of the Company is changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more
of the Company's assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred,
each holder of a Right (except Rights which have previously been voided as
set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in
the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior
to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole
or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
At any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date,
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the $.01 redemption price.
Redemption of outstanding Rights may also occur under the
following circumstances: If, after November 27, 2000, a bidder who,
together with all affiliates and associates of such bidder, beneficially
owns less than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock (and who, together with
all affiliates and associates of such bidder, within the past year has not
owned 5% or more of the Common Stock) wishes to acquire all of the Common
Stock for cash at a price which a nationally recognized investment bank
selected by such bidder states in writing is fair, and such bidder has
obtained written financial commitments (or otherwise has financing in hand)
and complies with certain procedural requirements, then the Company, upon
the request of the bidder, will hold a special stockholder meeting to vote
on a resolution requesting the Board of Directors of the Company to accept
such offer. If a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on
the proposal which are not beneficially owned by such bidder votes in favor
of such resolution, then for a period of 60 days after such meeting the
Rights will be automatically redeemed at the Redemption Price immediately
prior to the consummation of any tender offer for all of such shares at a
price per share in cash equal to or greater than the price offered by such
bidder; provided, that no redemption will be permitted or required after a
person has become an Acquiring Person.
The independent directors will review the Rights Plan by the
second, fifth and eighth anniversary of the Rights Plan and make
recommendations to the Board regarding the advisability of the continued
maintenance of the Rights Plan and propose any amendments to the Rights
Plan that the independent directors may deem appropriate or desirable.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will
have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the
distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the
Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize
taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common
Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the
acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set
forth above.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date.
After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be
amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which
do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten
or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing
notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are
not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form
8-A dated December 1, 1998. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available
free of charge from the Rights Agent. This summary description of the
Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
EXHIBIT 2
United States Filter Corporation Adopts Stockholder
Rights Plan
PALM DESERT, Calif., Nov. 27 - - United States Filter Corporation (the
"Company") (NYSE: USF) announced today that its Board of Directors adopted
a Stockholder Rights Plan in which rights will be distributed as a dividend
at the rate of one Right for each share of common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of the Company held by stockholders of record as of the close of
business on December 11, 1998. The Rights Plan is designed to deter
coercive takeover tactics without offering a fair price to all of the
Company's stockholders. The Rights will expire on November 27, 2008.
Each Right initially will entitle stockholders to buy one unit of a share
of preferred stock for $80.00. The Rights generally will be exercisable
only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of
the Company's common stock or commences a tender or exchange offer upon
consummation of which such person or group would beneficially own 15% or
more of the Company's common stock other than pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer that has been approved by a majority of the independent
directors not affiliated with a 15%-or-more stockholder.
The Company will generally be entitled to redeem the Rights at $0.01 per
Right at any time until 10 days (subject to extension) after a public
announcement that a 15% position in the Company's common stock has been
acquired. Redemption of the Rights Plan may also occur after November 27,
2000 through a stockholder referendum if the Company receives a qualifying
offer from a person owning less than 5% of the Company's common stock.
The independent directors will review the Rights Plan by the second, fifth
and eighth anniversary of the Rights Plan and make recommendations to the
Board regarding the advisability of the continued maintenance of the Rights
Plan and propose any amendments to the Rights Plan that the independent
directors may deem appropriate or desirable.
Details of the Stockholder Rights Plan are outlined in a letter that will
be mailed to all stockholders.
U.S. Filter is the leading global provider of commercial, industrial,
municipal and residential water and wastewater treatment systems, products
and services. U.S. Filter has the industry's largest network of sales,
service and manufacturing facilities through over 2,000 locations in 94
countries. U.S. Filter is also a leading provider of outsourced water
services including the operation of water and wastewater treatment systems
at customer sites. It is also actively involved in the development of
privatization initiatives for municipal water treatment facilities in the
U.S. and around the world. U.S. Filter, which is based in Palm Desert,
California, invites you to visit its web site at http://www.usfilter.com.
Forward looking statements in this release, including, without limitation,
statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives,
expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from
any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward looking statements. These factors include, among others, the
following: general economic and business conditions; competition; success
of operating initiatives, advertising and promotional efforts; existence of
adverse publicity or litigation; changes in business strategy or plans;
quality of management; availability, terms and development of capital;
business abilities and judgment of personnel; changes in, or the failure to
comply with governmental regulations; and other factors described in
filings of the Company with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
EXHIBIT 3
[UNITED STATES FILTER CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]
December , 1998
Dear United States Filter Corporation Stockholder:
The Board of Directors has announced the adoption of a
Stockholder Rights Plan. This letter briefly describes the Plan and
explains the reasons for adopting it. Enclosed is a document entitled
"Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock" which provides detailed
information about the Rights Plan. We urge you to read it carefully.
The Plan is intended to protect your interests as a stockholder
in the event United States Filter Corporation and its Board are confronted
with coercive or unfair takeover tactics. The Plan contains provisions to
safeguard your interests in the event of an unsolicited offer to acquire
the Company, whether through a gradual accumulation of shares in the open
market, a partial or two-tiered tender offer that does not treat all
stockholders equally, the acquisition in the open market or otherwise of
shares constituting control without offering fair value to all
stockholders, or other abusive takeover tactics that the Board believes are
not in the best interests of the Company's stockholders. These tactics
unfairly pressure stockholders, squeezing them out of the full value of
their investment without affording any real choice.
Many companies have Rights Plans similar to the one we have
adopted. We consider the Rights Plan to be the best available means of
protecting your right to retain your equity investment in United States
Filter Corporation and the full value of that investment, while not
foreclosing a fair acquisition bid for the Company.
The Plan is not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and
will not do so. The mere declaration of the rights dividend should not
affect any prospective offeror willing to make an all cash offer at a full
and fair price or to negotiate with the Board of Directors. The Rights
Plan will not interfere with a merger or other business combination
transaction approved by your Board of Directors because the Rights may be
redeemed by the Board.
Prior to adopting the Rights Plan, the Board was concerned that a
person or company could acquire control of the Company without paying a
fair premium for control or without offering a fair price to all
stockholders, and that, if a competitor acquired control of the Company,
the competitor would have a conflict of interest with respect to the
Company and could use any acquired influence over or control of the Company
to the detriment of the Company's other stockholders. The Board believes
that such results would not be in the best interests of all stockholders.
Issuance of the Rights does not in any way adversely affect the
financial strength of the Company or interfere with its business plan. The
issuance of the Rights has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported
earnings per share, is not taxable to the Company or to you, and will not
change the way in which you can currently trade the Company's shares. As
explained in detail in the enclosed summary, the Rights will only be
exercisable if an event occurs that triggers their effectiveness. They
will then operate to protect you against being deprived of your right to
share in the full measure of the Company's long-term potential.
The Board was aware when it acted that some people have advanced
arguments that securities of the type we are issuing deter legitimate
acquisition proposals. We carefully considered these views and concluded
that the arguments are speculative and do not justify leaving stockholders
without the protection afforded by the Rights Plan against unfair treatment
by a potential acquiror who, after all, is seeking his own company's
advantage, not yours. The Board believes that the Rights represent a sound
and reasonable means of addressing the complex issues of corporate policy
created by the current takeover environment.
However, the Board included two provisions in the Rights Plan to
address some of the concerns raised. First, the Rights Plan provides that
stockholders will be able to vote on whether to negate the effects of the
Rights Plan in connection with an offer made after November 27, 2000 by a
bidder who beneficially owns less than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock
of the Company who wishes to acquire all of the Common Stock for cash at a
price which a nationally recognized investment bank selected by such bidder
states in writing is fair, and such bidder has obtained written financial
commitments (or otherwise has financing in hand) and complies with certain
procedural requirements. Second, the Rights Plan provides that the
independent directors will review the Rights Plan by the second, fifth and
eighth anniversary of the Rights Plan and make recommendations to the Board
regarding the advisability of the continued maintenance of the Rights Plan
and propose any amendments to the Rights Plan that the independent
directors may deem appropriate or desirable.
While, as noted above, the distribution of the Rights will not be
taxable to you or the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income if and when the Rights become
exercisable or if the Rights should ever be redeemed.
Continuing our growth and maximizing long-term shareholder value
are the major goals of United States Filter Corporation's management and
Board of Directors.
Sincerely,
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
