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 AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas 74-2073055
(State of incorporation (IRS Employer
or organization) (Identification No.)
16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77060
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be registered each class is to be registered
Preferred Share Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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ITEM 1. Description of Securities To Be Registered.
Rights. On August 1, 1997, the Board of Directors of SWIFT ENERGY
COMPANY: (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable to the
stockholders of record on August 12, 1997 (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 $.01 per
share, of the Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $150 per one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of August 1, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Detachment of Rights. Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (with certain exceptions, an "Acquiring Person") has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or
(ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the
Board of Directors prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated
person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of
such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced,
with respect to any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the
Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate together with a copy of this
Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only
with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the
Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer of new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating
the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such
notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer
of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such
certificates. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on July 31, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring
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Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to
receive upon exercise of a Right that number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities or assets having a market value of two times the exercise price of
the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold,
proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void ) will
thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of
shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have
a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or
the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become
void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a
fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in
value thereto, per Right.
Preferred Shares. Share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled, when, as and if declared, to a dividend payment per share equal to an
aggregate dividend of 1000 times the dividend declared per share of Common
Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential
payment of $1.00 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000 times the payment made per share of
Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes, voting
together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common Stock
are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive 1000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These Rights
are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one share of Common Stock.
The offer and sale of the Preferred Shares or Common Shares issuable
upon exercise of the Rights will be registered pursuant to the Securities Act of
1993, as amended; such registration will not become effective until the Rights
become exercisable.
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Antidilution and Other Adjustments. The number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share or other securities or property issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, and the Purchase Price payable, are subject to customary adjustments
from time to time to prevent dilution.
Redemption of Rights. At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
Distribution Date or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of
the Company may redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. At
the effective time of such redemption, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price.
No Rights as Stockholder. 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.
Amendment of Rights. For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the
Company may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights
Agreement in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company
may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in
any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the
Rights.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Amendment filed
herewith as Exhibit 1, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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ITEM 2. Exhibits.
1. Rights Agreement dated as August 1, 1997, between Swift Energy
Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which
includes the form of Certificate of Designation for
Designating Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value, as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as
Exhibit B, and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's
Form 8-K dated as of August 1, 1997 and filed on August 11,
1997.
2. Form of Certificate of Designation for Designating Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (included
as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement, which is Exhibit 1
hereto).
3. Form of Right Certificate (included as Exhibit B to the Rights
Agreement, which is Exhibit 1 hereto). Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, printed Right Certificates will not be mailed until
as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date.
4. Form of Summary of Rights (included as Exhibit C to the Rights
Agreement, which is Exhibit 1 hereto) that, together with
certificates representing the outstanding Common Shares of the
Company, shall represent the Rights until the Distribution
Date.
5. Specimen of legend to be placed, pursuant to Section 3(c) of
the Rights Agreement, on all new Common Share certificates
issued after August 12, 1997 and prior to the Distribution
Date upon transfer, exchange or new issuance (included in
Section 3(c) of the Rights Agreement, which is Exhibit 1
hereto).
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: August 11, 1997.
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
By: /s/ John R. Alden
---------------------------------
Name: John R. Alden
Title: Senior Vice President
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EXHIBIT LIST
Exhibit Exhibit Description
No.
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1. Rights Agreement dated as of August 1, 1997,
between Swift Energy Company and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, which includes the form
of Certificate of Designation for Designating of the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par
value, as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as
Exhibit B, and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C.
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the
Company's Form 8-K dated as of August 1, 1997 and
filed on August 11, 1997.
2. Form of Certificate of Designation for Designating Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value
(included as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement, which is
Exhibit 1 hereto).
3. Form of Right Certificate (included as Exhibit B to the
Rights Agreement, which is Exhibit1 hereto). Pursuant to
the Rights Agreement, printed Right Certificates will not
be mailed until as soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date.
4. Form of Summary of Rights (included as Exhibit C to the
Rights Agreement, which is Exhibit 1 hereto) that,
together with certificates representing the outstanding
Common Shares of the Company, shall represent the Rights
until the Distribution Date.
5. Specimen of legend to be placed, pursuant to Section 3(c)
of the Rights Agreement, on all new Common Share
certificates issued after August 12, 1997 and prior to the
Distribution Date upon transfer, exchange or new issuance
(included in Section 3(c) of the Rights Agreement which is
Exhibit 1 hereto).
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<PAGE>
----------------------------
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent
----------------------------
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 1, 1997
----------------------------
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Section 1. Certain Definitions..............................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent......................................5
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates......................................5
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates.......................................7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................7
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates.....................................................8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights....9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates..............10
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.......................10
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date.....................................11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares and
Number of Rights................................................12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares......19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power ..........................................................19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.........................23
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................24
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders......................................25
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder...............25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.....................................25
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.......26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent..........................................26
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..........................................28
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates..............................29
Section 23. Redemption......................................................29
Section 24. Exchange........................................................30
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events........................................31
Section 26. Notices.........................................................32
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments......................................32
Section 28. Successors......................................................33
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement......................................33
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors............33
Section 31. Severability....................................................33
Section 32. Governing Law...................................................34
Section 33. Counterparts....................................................34
Section 34. Descriptive Heading.............................................34
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of August 1, 1997 ("Agreement"), between
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY, a Texas corporation (the "Company"), and AMERICAN STOCK
TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close
of Business (as defined below) on July 1, 1997 (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of
a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject
to the conditions herein set forth, and has further authorized and directed the
issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect to
each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the Record Date
and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms
are hereinafter defined); provided, however, that Rights may be issued with
respect to shares of Common Stock that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section
22.
Accordingly, 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 meaning indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt Person (as such term is hereinafter
defined), provided, however, that (i) if the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person" became such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (A)
such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock
that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (B) such
Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but
had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under
this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of
the Company, and if such Person as promptly as practicable divested or divests
itself of Beneficial Ownership of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock
so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person
shall not be deemed to be or to have become an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement; (ii) if, as of the date hereof, any Person is the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding, such
Person shall not be or become an "Acquiring Person" unless and until such time
as such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of an additional 1% of the
shares of Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid
or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
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Stock in shares of Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such
additional shares of Common Stock, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; and (iii) no
Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of
shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares
outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding, provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
by reason of such share acquisitions by the Company and shall thereafter become
the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than
pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Stock in shares of Common Stock or pursuant to a split or
subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such
additional shares of Common Stock such Person does not beneficially own 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. 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 Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date
hereof.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, shall be deemed
to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any
securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates is deemed to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities), 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, (x)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase, (y) securities which such Person
has a right to acquire upon the exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time
that any Person becomes an
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Acquiring Person or (z) securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and
after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were
acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior
to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof
("Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(n) with respect
to an adjustment to Original Rights; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security by
reason of such agreement arrangement or understanding if the agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a
revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made, pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also
then reportable 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 and with respect to which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of such securities of the Company;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1(c)), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas or the city in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Houston, Texas time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Houston, Texas time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
the Common Stock, presently par value $.01 per share, of the Company. "Common
Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean
the common stock (or, in the case of an unincorporated entity, the equivalent
equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such
other Person is a subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
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(g) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(h) "Current Value" shall have the meaning sct forth in Section
11(a)(iii).
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(j) "Equivalent Preferred Shares" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(b) hereof.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary (as
such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, in each case including,
without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity, or any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity or trustee
holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or for the
purpose of funding any such plan or funding other employee benefits for
employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.
(l) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
24 hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
(n) "Flip-In Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(p) "NASDAQ" shall mean The NASDAQ Stock Market.
(q) "New York Stock Exchange" shall mean the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity, and shall include
any successor (by merger or otherwise) to such entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit A.
(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
hereof.
(v) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7 hereof.
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(w) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23 hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(y) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(z) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(aa) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(bb) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such, or such
earlier date as a majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the
existence of an Acquiring Person.
(cc) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power sufficient to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons
performing similar functions are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, and any corporation or other entity that is otherwise controlled by
such Person.
(dd) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
(ff) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date be the
holders of Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to
time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later
date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time
as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date, of the commencement
by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or of the first public
announcement of the intention of such Person (other than an Exempt Person) to
commence,
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a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person
(other than an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common
Stock aggregating 15% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier
of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date", provided,
however, that if either of such dates occurs after the date of this Agreement
and on or prior to the Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall be the
Record Date), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of
Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Stock registered in the
names of the holders thereof and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the
Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common
Stock. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company will send
or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by
first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date (other than any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) for each share
of Common Stock so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date (other than any Acquiring Person or
any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person), at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates issued for Common Stock (including, without
limitation, upon transfer of outstanding Common Stock, disposition of Common
Stock out of treasury stock or issuance or reissuance of Common Stock out of
authorized but unissued shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier
of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed on,
printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entities the holder hereof
to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY (the "Company") and AMERICAN STOCK
TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent, dated as of August
1, 1997 as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated
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herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive 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 without charge after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the
Rights Agreement, Rights owned by or transferred to any Person
who is or becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and certain transferees thereof will become
null and void and will no longer be transferable.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate, except as otherwise provided
herein, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company purchases or
otherwise acquires any Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock shall be deemed
canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any
Rights associated with the Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Notwithstanding this paragraph (c), the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the
reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements, printed thereon as 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 or interdealer quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 11, 13 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates 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 per one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the
number of such one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and the
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by the President of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature, and shall be attested by the Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be
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<PAGE>
manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have
signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Right 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 Right Certificates had not ceased to
be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this 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 an office or agency designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books
shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right
Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 11(a)(ii), 13 and 14
hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates,
entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or
Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or agency of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or
Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Right Certificates.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by
the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of
the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case
of theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to
them, and, at the Company's request, 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 Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company
will make and deliver a new
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Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights, Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Rights shall become
exercisable on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the registered holder of
any Right Certificate may, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and except as
otherwise provided herein, exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in
part upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office or agency 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 of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised, at any
time which is both after the Distribution Date and prior to the time (the
"Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on July 31,
2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the
time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be initially $150 for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. The Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock or other securities or property to be acquired upon exercise of
a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections
11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
America in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon receipt of a Right
Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to
purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
for the shares of Preferred Stock to be purchased and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, in cash or by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the Preferred Stock certificates for the number of shares of Preferred Stock to
be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing interests in such number, of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
promptly 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 Right
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when
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<PAGE>
appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) Except as otherwise provided herein, in case the registered holder
of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights evidenced
thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the exercisable
Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the
registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported
transfer or exercise of Rights pursuant to Section 6 hereof or this Section 7
unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed the
Certificate contained in the form of assignment or form of election to purchase
set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such
transfer or exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity
of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
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 Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Shares of Preferred Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock,
or any shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of
Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, or quoted on NASDAQ, 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 or admitted to trading on such exchange, or
quoted on NASDAQ, upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
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<PAGE>
(c) From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the
Company shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights (or any other securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights), to register and qualify such shares of
Preferred Stock or other securities under the Securities Act and any applicable
state securities or "Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not
available), cause such registration statement and qualifications to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing and keep such registration and
qualifications effective until the earlier of the date as of which the Rights
are no longer exercisable for such securities and the Expiration Date. The
Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days, the
exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act 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 is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until a registration statement
under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates therefor
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and non-assessable shares.
(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 Right Certificates or
of any shares of Preferred Stock 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 Right Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the
Preferred Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable
by that holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such tax
is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of
Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company
are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such
shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day
on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are open.
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<PAGE>
Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right
Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Stock
for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends or other distributions, 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 and
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of 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 and pay 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 of
Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock 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, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person (the first occurrence of such event being
referred to hereinafter as the ("Flip-In Event"), then (A) the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the
Flip-In Event multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Flip-In Events whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and (B) each
holder of a Right, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the Purchase Price (as so adjusted), in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
on the date of such Flip-In Event; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
(as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the Flip-In Event, be subject to further
adjustment as
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<PAGE>
appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and after the Flip-In Event, any
Rights that are beneficially owned by (x) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate
or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (y) a transferee of any Acquiring Person
(or any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the Flip-In
Event or (z) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or
Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Flip-In
Event pursuant to either (I) a transfer from the Acquiring Person to holders of
its equity securities or to any Person with whom it has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (II)
a transfer which the Board of Directors has determined is part of the plan,
arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the
provisions of this paragraphs and subsequent transferees of such Persons, shall
be void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall
thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights under any
provision of this Agreement. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
ensure that the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a
result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after
the Flip-In Event, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or
Section 6 hereof that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to
the provisions of this paragraph and any Right Certificate delivered to the
Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph shall be canceled. From and after the occurrence of
an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that theretofore have not
been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii) shall thereafter be
exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not pursuant to this Section
11(a)(ii).
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one share of Preferred
Stock multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share
market price of one share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall not be
sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but
unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Board of Directors shall, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which
the Company is a party (A) determine the excess (such excess, the "Spread") of
(1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a
Right in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) (the "Current Value")
over (2) the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii)), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which
have become void pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph (ii)), make adequate
provision to substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance
with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) upon exercise of the Right and payment of
the Purchase Price (as adjusted in accordance therewith), (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in such Purchase Price, (3) shares of Preferred Stock or other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions of
shares of preferred stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and
liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common
Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to
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<PAGE>
have substantially the same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of
Preferred Stock and shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock are
hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of
the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a
value which, when added to the value of the shares of Common Stock issued upon
exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value
(less the amount of any reduction in such Purchase Price), where such aggregate
value has been determined by the Board of Directors upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by the
Board of Directors; provided, however, that if the Company shall not make
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty
(30) days following the Flip-In Event (the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any material agreement then in effect to which the Company is
a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of such Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent
available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If, upon the
occurrence of the Flip-In Event, the Board of Directors shall determine in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the
Board of Directors so elects, 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 the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant
to the second and/or third sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x)
shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof and the last sentence of this
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until
the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of
additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be
made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the
event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the shares of
Common Stock shall be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i)) on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the per share or
fractional value of any "Common Stock Equivalent" shall be deemed to equal the
current per share market price of the Common Stock. The Board of Directors of
the Company may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to allocate
the right to receive shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights
among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii).
(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
(for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred
shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
shares at a price per share of
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Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred shares (or having a conversion price per
share, if a security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or equivalent
preferred shares) less than the then current per share market price of the
Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) 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 and equivalent preferred shares outstanding on such record
date plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred
shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares 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 and equivalent preferred
shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock and equivalent preferred
shares 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, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock) or 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
then current per share market price of the Preferred Stock (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) 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 assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred
Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Preferred Stock; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall
be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
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<PAGE>
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall
again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) Except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of any
computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of any security (a
"Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily closing prices per Share of such Security for the
30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date, provided, however, that, in the event that the current per
share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on
such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into
such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share equivalent of such Security. 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 by the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Security is 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 Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted piece 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 Security is not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as tarnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day" shall
mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, if the
Preferred Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in
Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded but the Common
Stock is publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of
the Common Stock as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) multiplied by the
then applicable Adjustment Number (as defined in and determined in accordance
with the Certificate of Designation for the Preferred Stock). If neither the
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly traded, "current per share
market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
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(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or other
share or security as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which
requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive: any shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Preferred
Stock, thereafter the Purchase Price and the number of such other shares so
receivable upon exercise of a Right 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),
11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(h), 11(i) and 11(m) hereof, as applicable, 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 11(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
hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i) multiplying
(x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right immediately prior to such 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 pursuant to Sections 11(b) or 11(c) hereof to adjust the number
of Rights, in substitution for 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 such adjustment of 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-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
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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. Such record date may be the date on which
the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of
the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company
may, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of
Right Certificates on such record date Right 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
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be registered in
the names of the holders of record of Right 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 a Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which were expressed in the
initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the fraction of
Preferred Stock or other shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of a
Right, 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 non-assessable shares of Preferred Stock or other such
shares 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 issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment, provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such adjustments in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly
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required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion
shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision
of the Preferred Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred
Stock at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of
Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for Preferred Stock, dividends on Preferred Stock payable in shares
of Preferred Stock or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that at anytime after the date of this Rights Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare and pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in Common Stock or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination
or consolidation of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend payable in Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or
delivered thereafter, 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 each event by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
(o) The Company agrees that, after the earlier of the Distribution Date
or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23,
24 or 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 eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided, in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting or such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock and the
Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof (if
so required under Section 25 hereof). The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after the Flip-In
Event (i) the Company shall consolidate with or shall merge into any other
Person, (ii) any Person shall merge
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with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of
the Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person (or of the Company) or cash or any other
property, or (iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person (other than the Company or one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of
the Company), then upon the first occurrence of such event, proper provision
shall be made so that: (A) each holder of a Right (other than Rights which have
become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the Purchase Price (as
theretofore adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof), in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock or
Common Stock of the Company, 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 equal
the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price (as theretofore adjusted in
accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) by 50% of the current per share market
price of the Common Stock of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer; provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as theretofore
adjusted in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and the number of shares
of Common Stock of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right
shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section
11(f) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of
such Principal Party after the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Rights Agreement; (C) the
term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party; and
(D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of its shares of Common Stock in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such 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 the
shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the
Rights; provided that, upon the subsequent occurrence of any consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary transaction in respect
of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to
receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price as provided
in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property
which such holder would have been entitled to receive had such holder, at the
time of such transaction, owned the Common Stock of the Principal Party
receivable upon the exercise of a Right pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such
Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent
exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property.
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(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (i) or (ii) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of
the securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such
merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer
the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding, or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that
is the other party to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if
there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of
which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if
the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger,
the Person that does survive the merger (including the Company if it survives)
or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (iii) of the
first sentence in Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the
assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding;
provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time or has
not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such other, or (2) if such
Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the
Common Stock of all of which is and has been so registered, the term "Principal
Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of Common Stock
having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such
Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or
more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person, the
rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the owners
having an interest in the venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture
was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party
in each such case shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the
same ratio as its interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer referred to in Section 13(a) hereof unless prior thereto the Company
and the Principal Party involved therein shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent an agreement confirming that the requirements of Sections 13(a)
and (b) hereof shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms and
that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result in
a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the
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Principal Party pursuant to Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof and providing that, as
soon as practicable after executing such agreement pursuant to this Section 13,
the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and
similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading
(or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities
exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities
exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the
Rights to be authorized for quotation on NASDAQ or on such other system then in
use;
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act; and
(iv) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or
preemptive rights in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject
to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
(d) In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate or articles of incorporation or by-laws or
other instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the
effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of,
the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of
Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than
the then current market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock
or Common Stock Equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then
current market price, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar
provision in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company
hereby agrees with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such
transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing
that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled,
waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that
the
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applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Flip-In Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in
clauses (i) through (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction 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, (ii)
prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer or other transaction, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section
13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature
of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or limit the
exercisability of the Rights.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights (except prior
to the Distribution Date in accordance with Section 11(n) hereof). In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the 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 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 Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock) or to distribute certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions
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which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock) upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. Interests in fractions of
Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company be evidenced by depositary
receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a
depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Stock represented by such depositary receipts. 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 shall pay to the registered holders of Right
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised or exchanged as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole share of Preferred Stock (as determined in accordance with
Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise or exchange.
(c) 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 upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional
shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holder of the
Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock
would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole share of Common Stock (as determined in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise or exchange of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), on his own behalf and for his own
benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect to his
right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided therein 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
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of
any Person subject to this Agreement.
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Section 16. Agreement of Right 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 the Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly
endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Right Certificates or the Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the
Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Stock or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise or exchange of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, 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 this Agreement), or to
receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights
evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
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(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 Right
Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged by the
proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth
in Section 20 hereof.
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
stock transfer or corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, if any of the Right Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt
the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right 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 Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
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<PAGE>
(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 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 President, any Senior or Executive
Vice President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer 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 to the Company and any
other Person 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 Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
the terms of the Rights provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 and 24, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right
Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12,
describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any shares of Preferred Stock or other securities to be issued
pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares
of Preferred Stock or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person reasonably believed by the Rights Agent to be one of the President, any
Senior or Executive Vice President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer of the
Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in
27
<PAGE>
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or
suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer
or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application
by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option
of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or
omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on and/or after
which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights
Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after
the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five
Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employment thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of
assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof,
as the case may be, has not been completed to certify the holder is not an
Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or Associate 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 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
following the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Stock or Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, following
the Distribution Date, to the holder of the Right
28
<PAGE>
Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed
or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a
successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or
after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate
(who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or the laws of any state of the United States or the District of
Columbia, in good standing, having an office in the State of Texas or the State
of New York which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or
stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. 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 or Preferred Stock, and, following
the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such forms
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may with respect to shares of Common
Stock so issued or sold pursuant to (i) the exercise of stock options, (ii)
under any employee plan or arrangement, (iii) upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities, notes or debentures issued by the Company or (iv) a
contractual obligation of the Company, in each case existing prior to the
Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number
of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at any time prior to the
Flip-In Event, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a
redemption price of $.01
29
<PAGE>
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the redemption price being
hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption
Price shall be payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common
Stock, or such other form of consideration as the Board of Directors shall
determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the
redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23 (or at
such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness of
such redemption), 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. The Company shall
promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity
of such redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights (or such later time as the Board or
Directors may establish for the effectiveness of such redemption), the Company
shall mail a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption shall 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 the Flip-In Event, 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 11(a)(ii) 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 amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person
shall have become the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock aggregating 50%
or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. From and after the
occurrence of an event specified in Section 13(a) hereof, any Rights that
theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall
thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be
exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the
Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with
such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate
30
<PAGE>
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 shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the
holders of the Rights so exchanged 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 shares of 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 11(a)(ii)
hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in the event that
there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding
or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of Rights for Common Stock as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall substitute to
the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would
otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred
Stock or fraction thereof (or equivalent preferred shares, as such term is
defined in Section 11(b)) such that the current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of one share of Preferred Stock
(or equivalent preferred share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal
to the current per share market price of one share of Common Stock (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) as of the date of such exchange.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall at any time after the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock
(other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision or combination of
outstanding Preferred Stock), (iv) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (v) to pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, 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, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the
date on which such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and
the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or
Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10
days prior to
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the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock for purposes of
such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to
the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Stock, whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any event described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13
shall occur then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate (or if occurring prior to the Distribution
Date, the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
and Section 13 hereof.
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 Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
16825 Northchase Drive, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77060
Attention: A. Earl Swift, President
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
40 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as provided in the
penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights
Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement
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<PAGE>
or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of
any holders of the Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable,
except as provided in the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, 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 in order to (i)
cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein
which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, (iii)
shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) change or supplement the
provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable; provided that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), and no such amendment may
cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause the Agreement again to
become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment
shall be made which changes the Redemption Price. 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.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, 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 Right Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock).
Section 30. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such
actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that
are done or made by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall
(x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not subject the
Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
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<PAGE>
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contact made under the laws of the
State of Texas and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Heading. 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, all as of the day and year first above written.
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
By:
------------------------
John R. Alden
Senior Vice President--
Finance and Secretary
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Rights
Agent
By:
------------------------
Its:
--------------------
34
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Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
Pursuant to Article 2.13(D) of the
Texas Business Corporation Act
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the
Texas Business Corporation Act (the "Corporation"), in accordance with the
applicable provisions thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in
accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on August 1, 1997 adopted the following
resolution creating a series of 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
the Articles of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that
the designation and number of shares thereof and the voting and other
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
rights of the shares of such series and the qualifications, limitations
and restrictions thereof are as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock
that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock," and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 1,000,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.
A - 1
<PAGE>
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of
any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation 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 15th day of January, April, July and October,
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 Adjustment Number (as defined below) times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number 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. The "Adjustment Number" shall initially be
1000. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after August 12, 1997 (the
"Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare and pay 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.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph
(A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) The 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 60 days prior to the date fixed
for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
A - 2
<PAGE>
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the
Adjustment Number on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law and by Section 10 hereof,
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.
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; or
(iii) 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 Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders of any such shares
ranking on a parity therewith, 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.
A - 3
<PAGE>
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 promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their retirement 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 or the Board of Directors, subject to
any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or otherwise, 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 per share (the "Series A Liquidation Preference") equal to the greater
of (i) $1.00 plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, or
(ii) the Adjustment Number times the per share amount of all cash and other
property to be distributed in respect of the Common Stock upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(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 classes and series of
stock of the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for
such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation
into or with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning or this Section
6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the Adjustment
Number 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.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Company.
A - 4
<PAGE>
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends, and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and
shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Articles of Incorporation of
the Corporation, as amended or restated from time to time, shall not be amended
in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds
of the outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's factional 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, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this
11th day of August, 1997.
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
By:
------------------------
John R. Alden
Senior Vice President--
Finance and Secretary
A - 5
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R-__________
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 31, 2007 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION
OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT
$.01 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY
PERSON WHO IS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL
BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
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 August 1, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY, a Texas corporation (the "Company"),
and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, a New York corporation, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to
5:00 P.M., Houston, Texas time, on July 31, 2007 at the office or agency of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent,
one one-thousandth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"),
of the Company at a purchase price of $150 per one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon
exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are
the number and Purchase Price as of August 12, 1997, based on the Preferred
Stock as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the
Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) which may be purchased upon the exercise of
the Rights and the number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are
subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
B - 1
<PAGE>
This Right 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 Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned office or agency of the Rights Agent. The
Company will mail to the holder of this Right Certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of
like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for shares of the
Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, or shares of Preferred Stock.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be issued
upon the exercise or exchange of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other
than fractions of Preferred Stock 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 depository receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise or exchange 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 or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
B - 2
<PAGE>
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of ____________________.
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
By:
------------------------
A. Earl Swift
President
ATTEST:
- ----------------------------
John R. Alden, Secretary
Countersigned:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent
By:
--------------------------
--------------------------
Its:
-------------------------
B - 3
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
Rights represented by this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_________________________, Attorney, to transfer said Rights on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
---------------------
------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by, were not acquired by the
undersigned from, and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------
Signature
B - 4
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate)
To SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock
(or other securities or property) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or such other
securities) be issued in the name of:
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identification number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
Dated:
--------------------------
-----------------------------
Signature
(Signature must conform to holder specified on Right Certificate)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signature must be guaranteed by a bank, trust company, broker, dealer
or other eligible institution participating in a recognized signature guarantee
medallion program.
B - 5
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued
(To be completed)
The undersigned certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, and were not acquired by the
undersigned from, an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------
Signature
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B - 6
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS OWNED BY OR TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON WHO IS
OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT) AND CERTAIN TRANSFEREES THEREOF WILL BECOME NULL
AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK OF
SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY
On August 1, 1997, the Board of Directors of SWIFT ENERGY COMPANY (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable to the stockholders of
record on August 12, 1997 (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 $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of $150 per one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of August 1, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between the Company and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with
certain exceptions, an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days
(or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention
to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result
in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Stock certificate together with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only
with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the
Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating
the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
C - 1
<PAGE>
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such
notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer
of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such
certificates. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on July 31, 2007 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as and
if declared, to a dividend payment per share equal to an aggregate dividend of
1000 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the
Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential payment of the
greater of $1.00 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) or an
aggregate payment of 1000 times the payment or distribution made per share of
Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes, voting
together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common Stock
are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive 1000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights
are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
C - 2
<PAGE>
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number
of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price
of the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold,
proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will
thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of
shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the
foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have
a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or
the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become
void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a
fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in
value thereto, per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock
will be issued (other than fractions of Preferred Stock 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), and in lieu
thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of
the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock.
At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except
with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner.
After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect
to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not
adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
C - 3
<PAGE>
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, 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.
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
August 11, 1997. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
as the same may be amended from time to time, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
C - 4
<PAGE>
