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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 30, 1999
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LTX Corporation
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 0-10761 04-2594045
- --------------------------- ----------- ------------------
(State or other juris- (Commission (IRS Employer
diction of incorporation) File No.) Identification No.)
LTX Park at University Avenue
Westwood, Massachusetts 02090-2306
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (781) 461-1000
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On April 30, 1999, the Board of Directors of LTX Corporation (the
"Company"), adopted a shareholder rights plan to replace its 1989 rights plan,
which expires by its terms on May 11, 1999. Pursuant to the plan, the Board
declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's
common stock, $0.05 par value per share ("Common Stock"), to stockholders of
record at the close of business on May 11, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common
Stock, at a Purchase Price of $45 in cash, subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of April 30, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and BankBoston,
N.A., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days (or such
later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company)
following the first date of a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10
business days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer
that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the rights), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record
Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding, even without such notation, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
upon the close of business on April 30, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date")
unless earlier redeemed or exchanged as described below. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, separate Rights Certificates will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will
represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors,
and except for shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise, conversion or
exchange of then outstanding options, convertible or exchangeable securities or
other contingent obligations to issue shares,
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only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued
with Rights.
In the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then, promptly
following the first occurrence of such event, each holder of a Right (except as
provided below and in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of Common Stock
of the Company (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by 50% of
the current market price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) per share of
Common Stock at the date of the occurrence of such event. However, Rights are
not exercisable following such event until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as described below. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of such event, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. The event
summarized in this paragraph is referred to as a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event."
In the event that, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, (i) the Company is consolidated with, or merged with and into, another
entity and the Company is not the surviving entity of such consolidation or
merger or if the Company is the surviving entity, but shares of its outstanding
Common Stock are changed or exchanged for stock or securities (of any other
person) or cash or any other property, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's
assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except
Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock
of the acquiring company which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by
50% of the current market price of such common stock at the date of the
occurrence of the event. The events summarized in this paragraph are referred
to as "Section 13 Events." A Section 11(a)(ii) Event and Section 13 Events are
collectively referred to as "Triggering Events."
At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, subject to
certain conditions, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock
per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common 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 Common
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than
the then-current market price of
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the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock
of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings) or of subscription rights
or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock is also subject to adjustment in
certain circumstances in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a
stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued and, in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) after
the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Company may
redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"), payable in cash or stock. Immediately upon the action of
the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price. The Rights may also be redeemable following certain other
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Subject to certain exceptions, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such
time as the Rights are no longer redeemable.
The Form of Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent
specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes as Exhibit A the Form of
Rights Certificate, and as Exhibit B the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common
Stock, is an Exhibit hereto. The foregoing description of the Rights does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
Exhibits.
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Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Exhibit
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4.1 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1999,
between LTX Corporation and BankBoston, N.A., which
includes as Exhibit A the Form of Rights Certificate
and as Exhibit B the Summary of Rights to Purchase
Common Stock.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 30, 1999 LTX Corporation
By: /s/ Joseph A. Hedal
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Joseph A. Hedal
Clerk
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______________________________________________________________________________
LTX CORPORATION
and
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
Rights Agent
______________________
Rights Agreement
Dated as of April 30, 1999
______________________________________________________________________________
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 30, 1999 (the "Agreement"), between LTX
Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), and
BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
- - - - - - - - - -
WHEREAS, on April 30, 1999 the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the
close of business on May 11, 1999 (the "Record Date"), and authorized the
issuance of one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to
the provisions of Sections 11(i) or 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock
of the Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or
delivered from the Company's treasury) and the earlier of the Distribution Date
or the Expiration Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase
one share of Common Stock of the Company, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
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following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or (iv) any
Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) if the Board
determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring
Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a),
has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as
practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person
would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such
Person shall again become an "Acquiring Person" and (y) any such Person who
becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of
the Common Stock then outstanding as a result of a reduction in the number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding due to the
1
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repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such
Person, after becoming aware that such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of
fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
acquires beneficial ownership of any additional shares of Common Stock (other
than by means of a stock dividend or stock split).
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns or has the right to
acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling
group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities),
whether or not in writing, or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, other rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
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however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
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"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or
exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time
prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable
upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to
Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to
Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to
any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or
has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, or any comparable or
successor rule), including 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
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offering of securities), whether or not in writing; provided, however, that
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a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially
own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such
agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable
proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and
(B) is not then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements
with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a
bona fide public offering of securities) whether or not in writing, for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy
or consent as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this
paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m.,
Boston time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
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Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Boston time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $0.05 par value, of
the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person
other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the
greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having
power to control or direct the management, of such Person.
(h) "Common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(i) "Current market price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(j) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(k) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(l) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(c)
hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(n) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of business on April
30, 2009.
(o) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, trust, association, limited liability company or other entity.
(p) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(q) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)
hereof.
(r) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS
clause at the beginning of the Agreement.
(s) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(t) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(u) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS clause
at the beginning of the Agreement.
(v) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a) hereof.
(w) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean an acquisition of Common
Stock described in the first sentence of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
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(x) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(y) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(z) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof.
(aa) "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) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(bb) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, (i) any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person and (ii)
any other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity
securities or a majority of the equity interest is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person.
(cc) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(dd) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)
hereof.
(ee) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
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Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The
Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable
for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights.
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(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth
Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the
Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the Stock
5
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Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the
Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by the Board) after the date that a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
(the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the Common
Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for
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each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common
Stock has been made pursuant to Sections 11(i) or 11(p) hereof, at the time of
distribution of the Right Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and
appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so
that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are
distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, by first-class, postage
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prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the close of business on the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and the
registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of
the associated Rights.
(c) Rights shall be issued (i) in respect of all shares of Common
Stock that are issued (either as an original issuance or from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date and (ii) in connection with the issuance or sale of
Common Stock following the
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Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date upon the exercise of stock
options, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities, granted or
issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date. Certificates representing
such shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, certificates issued
upon transfer or exchange of Common Stock) shall also be deemed to be
certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between LTX
Corporation (the "Company") and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights Agent")
dated as of April 30, 1999, as the same may be amended, restated or
renewed from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at
the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The
Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly
after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances
set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any
Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or
Associates thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent
holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights.
(d) Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration
Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in
respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. In the event that the
Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date
but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of
Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
which are no longer outstanding.
7
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Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
---------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase,
certification and assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks
---------
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number
of shares of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth
therein (such exercise price per share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount
and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the
Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3, Section
11(i), Section 11(p) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by persons known to be: (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently
with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to
either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring
Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person
with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or
(B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) that has as a primary purpose or
effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement
or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence,
shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights
represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified
in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
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Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
---------------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and by its
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature,
and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, which
shall be attested by the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually
countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless
so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any
of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the
Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or
cause to be kept, at its office designated as the appropriate place for
surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates, the Certificate number and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
------------------------------------------------------
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution
Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any
Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof or that have been
exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or
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Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged, with the form
of assignment and certificate appropriately executed, at the office of the
Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the
Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the
transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder
shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may
be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
-------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of
shares of Common Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as
the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or
prior to the earliest of (i) 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 (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall initially be $45 and shall be subject to adjustment
from
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<PAGE>
time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per share of Common Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount
equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of shares of
Common Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby authorizes its transfer
agent to comply with such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to
deposit the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of shares of Common Stock as are to
be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Common 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 requests, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if
any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance with
Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if
any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified bank check or
money order payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company
is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or
distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company shall
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other
property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person,
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(ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate)
who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing)
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) that has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
transfer or exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate following the form of
assignment or election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights
Certificate surrendered for such assignment or exercise, and (ii) provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
---------------------------------------------------
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
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<PAGE>
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
---------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(f), the Company covenants
and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or out of its authorized and
issued shares of Common Stock held in its treasury (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Common Stock and/or other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares
of Common Stock and/or other securities held in its treasury, as the case may
be), the number of shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be)
that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will
be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be
listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, 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 so listed
upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the Common
Stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such shares of Common Stock or other
securities, and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action
as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or
"blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of
the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first
sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective.
Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as
a public announcement at such time as the suspension 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
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<PAGE>
requisite registration or qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been
effected or obtained.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the
Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates
and of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required (i) to pay any transfer tax that may be payable in respect of any
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the
issuance or delivery shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case
may be) in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the
Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or (ii) to issue
or deliver any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as
the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the
exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is
due.
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
------------------------
certificate for shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be)
is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock (or other securities,
as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
-------- -------
payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case
may be) transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to
have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Stock (or other
securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior
to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights
Certificate, as such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of
the Company with respect to securities for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
14
<PAGE>
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
----------------------------------------------------------
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
- ----------------
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine
the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue
any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock
(including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof,
the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or
capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after
such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price
then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock or
capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock transfer
books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and
been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification; provided, however, that if the record date
-------- -------
for any such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification shall
occur prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall make an appropriate
adjustment to the Purchase Price (taking into account any additional Rights
which may be issued as a result of such dividend, subdivision, combination
or reclassification), in lieu of adjusting (as described above) the number
of shares of Common Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be)
issuable upon exercise of the Rights and, in accordance with Section 3(c),
but subject to Sections 11(i) and 11(p), each additional share of Common
Stock issued in connection with such dividend, subdivision or
reclassification shall have associated with it one Right, so that
immediately after such event each share of Common Stock (or other capital
stock) will have exactly one Right associated with it. If an event occurs
that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event that any
Person, alone or together with its Affiliates or Associates, becomes an
Acquiring Person, then, promptly following the first occurrence of such
event,
15
<PAGE>
proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as
provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right
to receive (subject to the last sentence of Section 23(a)), upon exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that
equals the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first
occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for
each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares,
the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that are
authorized by the Company's Articles of Organization but not outstanding or
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights
are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment
Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2)
the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to
each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment
Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred
stock which the Board has deemed to have the same value as shares of Common
Stock (such shares of preferred stock, "common stock equivalents")), (4)
debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of
the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where
such aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board;
provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to
-------- -------
deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant
to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein
as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be
obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to
the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or
cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board 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, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to
the extent necessary, but
16
<PAGE>
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 period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights,
and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration
of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made
pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the
event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension
is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value
of the Common Stock shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the
Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on
such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar
days after such record date) Common Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the shares of Common Stock ("equivalent common
stock")) or securities convertible into Common Stock or equivalent common stock
at a price per share of Common Stock or per share of equivalent common stock (or
having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Stock
or equivalent common stock) less than the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock
and/or equivalent common stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
additional shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent common stock to be offered
for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid
by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than
cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by
the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
17
<PAGE>
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not
be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the
event that such rights, 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 a distribution to
all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Common Stock, but including any dividend
payable in stock other than Common 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 current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to a share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be such
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Common Stock on such record date. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market
price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately
following such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current
-------- -------
market price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend
or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or
securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights),
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification
18
<PAGE>
of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30)
Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-
dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the
"current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-
dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price,
regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on
which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and the low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("Nasdaq") or such other system then
in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by
the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common
Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by
the Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which Nasdaq
or any national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not
publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
- -------- -------
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock
or other 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 (3) years from the date of the transaction
which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any securities other than Common
Stock, thereafter the number of such other securities so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price
19
<PAGE>
thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on
terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k)
and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect
to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other securities;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable for its inability to
- -------- -------
reserve and keep available for issuance upon exercise of the Rights pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) a number of shares of Common Stock greater than the number
then authorized by the Company's Articles of Organization but not outstanding or
reserved for other purposes.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common 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 Sections 11(i) or 11(p), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
shares of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of shares covered by a Right immediately prior to
this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.
Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common 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 ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10)
days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have
been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to
20
<PAGE>
be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date
Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment,
or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by
such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if
required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to
which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates
so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted
Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate
action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Company may validly and legally issue shares of fully paid and nonassessable
Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the shares of
Common 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 of Common Stock and other capital stock or
securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board shall determine to be
advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Common
Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of
21
<PAGE>
any shares of Common Stock at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance
wholly for cash of shares of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock shall
not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates. The Company shall not
consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto
the Company and such other Person shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement evidencing compliance with this Section
11(n).
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(p) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior
to the Distribution Date, the Company may, in lieu of making any adjustment to
the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock eligible for purchase
on exercise of each Right or the number of Rights outstanding, which adjustment
would otherwise be required by Section 11(a)(i), 11(b), 11(c), 11(h) or 11(i),
make such other equitable adjustment or adjustments thereto as the Board of
Directors (whose determination shall be conclusive) deems appropriate in the
circumstances and not inconsistent with the objectives of the Board of Directors
in adopting this Agreement and such Sections.
22
<PAGE>
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
----------------------------------------------------------
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date,
to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in
accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
--------------------------------------------------------------
Power.
- -----
(a) In the event that, at any time after a Person has become an
Acquiring Person, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies
with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or
merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or
any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one
or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided
in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event,
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the number of shares of Common Stock
for which a Right
23
<PAGE>
was exercisable immediately prior to such first occurrence), and (2) dividing
that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall
be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of
this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on
the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13
Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal
Party, it being specifically intended that, subject to clause (v) below, the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party
shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the
consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the
exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall
be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer
of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are
converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so
issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation;
and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
- -------- -------
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
(2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than
one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3)
in case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed
by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the
chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if
24
<PAGE>
such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint ventures and the
Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in
this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such
Person bear to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and
the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply
in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13
Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(i) or (p)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in
25
<PAGE>
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right.
For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right
shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior
to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.
The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be the last sale price,
regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the 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 the 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.
If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the
fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share
of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
----------------
Agreement, except the rights of action expressly given to the Rights Agent in
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate
26
<PAGE>
in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or
threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
---------------------------
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms
and certificates duly completed and fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
-------- -------
efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order, decree or ruling and to have
any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as
possible.
27
<PAGE>
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
--------------------------------------------------
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Common Stock or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or
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
28
<PAGE>
corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be
-------- -------
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
----------------------
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Clerk or any Assistant Clerk 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
29
<PAGE>
suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance
upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11,
Section 13 or Section 24 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt of a certificate describing any
such adjustment, delivered pursuant to Section 12); nor shall it by any act
hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or other securities
to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to
whether any shares of Common Stock or other securities will, when so issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Clerk, any
Assistant Clerk, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to
apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties,
and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer. 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 with
30
<PAGE>
respect to its duties or obligations under this Rights Agreement and the date on
and/or after which such action shall be taken or omitted and the Rights Agent
shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted in accordance with a
proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified therein
(which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any such
officer actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any
such action, the Rights Agent has 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, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
-------- -------
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof and such assignment or election to purchase will
not be honored.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
----------------------
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any
31
<PAGE>
successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall
appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States (or of any state of the United
States) in good standing, 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
$50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a) of this
sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
-----------------------------------
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or
property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates
32
<PAGE>
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued
--------
if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and
(ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
--------------------------
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of
(i) the close of business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may
be determined by the Board pursuant to clause (i) of the first sentence of
Section 3(a) with respect to the Distribution Date) following the Stock
Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to
the Record Date, the close of business on the tenth Business Day following the
Record Date) or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all
the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such
amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend
or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price
being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with
such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Company
may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock
(based on the "current market price," as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the
Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration, or
any combination of any of the foregoing, deemed appropriate by the Board.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the redemption
of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after
the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall
give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then
outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at each holder's
last address as it appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the
Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice
of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made.
33
<PAGE>
(c) In the event of a redemption of the Rights in accordance with
this Agreement, the Company may, at its option, discharge all of its obligations
with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release announcing the manner
of redemption of the Rights in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) mailing
payment of the Redemption Price to the registered holders of the Rights at their
last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the Rights Agent or,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent of
the Common Shares, and upon such action, all outstanding Rights and Right
Certificates shall be null and void without any further action by the Company.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable
Rights (which (i) shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, and (ii) shall include, without limitation,
any Rights issued after the Distribution Date) for shares of Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange of
any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24, evidence of which
shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and
without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number
of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice
of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect
-------- -------
in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company
promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice
of exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of 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
34
<PAGE>
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common
Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be
paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which
such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of
Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (d), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof)
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this
Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
35
<PAGE>
winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify
the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights
or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if
any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of
any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior
to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock,
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case a Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in any such
case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify
the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Common
Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer also to Common Stock and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
-------
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
LTX Corporation
University Avenue
Westwood, MA 02090
Attention: Clerk
with a copy to:
Hale and Dorr LLP
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
Attention: David E. Redlick, Esq.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by
36
<PAGE>
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Company) as follows:
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o EquiServe Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Attention: Client Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such
holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. 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 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 (i) to cure any ambiguity or (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, 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). 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. Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made which
changes the Redemption Price. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of
the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of Common Stock.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
----------
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The Board shall have
--------------------------------------
the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise
all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as
may be
37
<PAGE>
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
--------------------------
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
------------
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines
in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid, void or unenforceable
language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of
this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be
reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth day
following the date of such determination by the Board.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
-------------
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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.
38
<PAGE>
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
--------------------
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
39
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: LTX CORPORATION
By:/s/ Joseph A. Hedal By:/s/ Roger W. Blethen
------------------- --------------------
Joseph A. Hedal Roger W. Blethen
Clerk CEO and President
Attest: BANKBOSTON, N.A., RIGHTS AGENT
By:/s/ Angela D. Beckner By:/s/ Margaret M. Prentice
--------------------- ------------------------
Angela D. Beckner Margaret M. Prentice
Senior Account Administrator Administration Manager
40
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- ______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 30, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE
COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]/1/
LTX CORPORATION
Rights Certificate
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 April 30, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between LTX
Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A.
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company after the Distribution Date
(as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and at any time prior to 5:00
p.m. (Boston time) on April 30, 2009 at the office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one fully paid,
non-assessable share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") of the Company, $0.05
par value per share, at a purchase price of $45 in cash per share (the
"Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
- -----------------------------
/1/ The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
Exhibit A
Front Side of Rights Certificate
Front-1
<PAGE>
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of shares of Common 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 the close of business on May 11, 1999, based on the Common
Stock as constituted at such date. Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the
Rights Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights evidenced
by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring
Person, Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, concurrently
with or after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no
holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after
the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and
kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Section 11(a)(ii) Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal offices of the
Company and are available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, with
the Form of Election and Certificate set forth on the reverse side duly
executed, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of shares
Exhibit A
Front Side of Rights Certificate
Front-2
<PAGE>
of Common Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Company may, at its
option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of the Company's Common Stock.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give 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 Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
Exhibit A
Front Side of Rights Certificate
Front-3
<PAGE>
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______________
ATTEST: LTX CORPORATION
___________________________ By:________________________________
Clerk
Title:______________________________
By:________________________________
Title:______________________________
Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer
COUNTERSIGNED:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
By:___________________________
Authorized Signature
Exhibit A
Front Side of Rights Certificate
Front-4
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
--------------------------------------------
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________________ hereby
sells, assigns and transfers unto _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
_________________________________________________________________________ this
Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ________________
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are not beneficially owned by, or being assigned to, an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement).
Dated: ______________
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Exhibit A
Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
Reverse-1
<PAGE>
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit A
Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
Reverse-2
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: BankBoston, N.A.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number __________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________________________
Dated: ______________
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Exhibit A
Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
Reverse-3
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined pursuant to the
Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: _______________
_____________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit A
Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
Reverse-4
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
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SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO
PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
On April 30, 1999, the Board of Directors of LTX Corporation (the
"Company"), adopted a shareholder rights plan to replace its 1989 rights plan,
which expires by its terms on May 11, 1999. Pursuant to the plan, the Board
declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's
common stock, $0.05 par value per share ("Common Stock"), to stockholders of
record at the close of business on May 11, 1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common
Stock, at a Purchase Price of $45 in cash, subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as
of April 30, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and BankBoston,
N.A., as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days (or such
later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company)
following the first date of a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10
business days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer
that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of such
outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the rights), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record
Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding, even without such notation, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
upon the close of business on April 30, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"),
unless earlier redeemed or exchanged as described below. As soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date, separate Rights Certificates will be mailed to
holders of record of
Exhibit B
Summary of Rights
B-1
<PAGE>
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and,
thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, and except for shares
of Common Stock issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of then outstanding
options, convertible or exchangeable securities or other contingent obligations
to issue shares, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution
Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then, promptly
following the first occurrence of such event, each holder of a Right (except as
provided below and in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of Common Stock
of the Company (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by 50% of
the current market price (as defined in the Rights Agreement) per share of
Common Stock at the date of the occurrence of such event. However, Rights are
not exercisable following such event until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as described below. Notwithstanding any of the
foregoing, following the occurrence of such event, all Rights that are, or
(under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. The event
summarized in this paragraph is referred to as a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event."
In the event that, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, (i) the Company is consolidated with, or merged with and into, another
entity and the Company is not the surviving entity of such consolidation or
merger or if the Company is the surviving entity, but shares of its outstanding
Common Stock are changed or exchanged for stock or securities (of any other
person) or cash or any other property, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's
assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except
Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock
of the acquiring company which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by
50% of the current market price of such common stock at the date of the
occurrence of the event. The events summarized in this paragraph are referred
to as "Section 13 Events." A Section 11(a)(ii) Event and Section 13 Events are
collectively referred to as "Triggering Events."
At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, subject to
certain conditions, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock
per Right (subject to adjustment).
Exhibit B
Summary of Rights
B-2
<PAGE>
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common 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 Common
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at less than
the then-current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above). The number of Rights associated with each share of Common
Stock is also subject to adjustment in certain circumstances in the event of a
stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable
in Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common
Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued and, in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the tenth Business Day (or such
later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) after
the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Company may
redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"), payable in cash or stock. Immediately upon the action of
the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price. The Rights may also be redeemable following certain other
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Subject to certain exceptions, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such
time as the Rights are no longer redeemable.
Exhibit B
Summary of Rights
B-3
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated May 3, 1999. 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,
which is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit B
Summary of Rights
B-4
<PAGE>
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated May 3, 1999. 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, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibit B
Summary of Rights
B-4
