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FORM 8-A
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 44-0541877
(State of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
or organization) Identification Number)
911 MAIN, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64105
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
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Preference Stock Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange
Pacific Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box. / /
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act if 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box. / /
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
None
--------------------------------
(Title of Class)
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
The description of the Registrant's Rights to Purchase Series A
Participating Cumulative Preference Stock (the "Rights"), is incorporated herein
by reference to the discussion under Item 5 of the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996 and the discussion under the
heading "Description of Common Stock" included in Amendment No. 1 of the Form
S-3 filed by the Registrant as part of Registration Statement No. 333-14869.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
1 Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of December 31, 1996 by and
between the Registrant and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as
Rights Agent.
2 Form of Rights Certificate and of Election to Exercise, included in
Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement.
3 Designation of Preferred Stock, included in Exhibit B to the Rights
Agreement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
By:
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Richard C. Green
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Dated: February 28, 1997
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of
December 31, 1996
between
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
and
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
as Rights Agent
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Table of Contents
PAGE
----
ARTICLE I
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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS..................................................1
1.1 Certain Definitions..................................................1
ARTICLE II
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THE RIGHTS...........................................................6
2.1 Legend on Common Stock Certificates..................................6
2.2 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights.............................7
2.3 Adjustments to Purchase Price; Number of Rights......................9
2.4 Date on Which Exercise is Effective.................................10
2.5 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates...................................................10
2.6 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.................10
2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates...........11
2.8 Persons Deemed Owners...............................................12
2.9 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates...........................12
2.10 Agreement of Rights Holders.........................................12
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS...................................13
3.1 Flip-in.............................................................13
3.2 Flip-over...........................................................15
ARTICLE IV
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THE RIGHTS AGENT....................................................16
4.1 General.............................................................16
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...........16
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4.3 Duties of Rights Agent..............................................17
4.4 Change of Rights Agent..............................................18
ARTICLE V
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MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................19
5.1 Redemption..........................................................19
5.2 Expiration..........................................................20
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates.................................20
5.4 Supplements and Amendments..........................................20
5.5 Fractional Shares...................................................20
5.6 Rights of Action....................................................21
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder...........................21
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions..........................................21
5.9 Notices.............................................................21
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability........................................22
5.11 Regulatory Approval.................................................22
5.12 Costs of Enforcement................................................22
5.13 Successors..........................................................23
5.14 Benefits of this Agreement..........................................23
5.15 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc............23
5.16 Descriptive Headings................................................23
5.17 Governing Law.......................................................23
5.18 Counterparts........................................................23
5.19 Severability........................................................23
ii
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Rights Certificate
(Together with Form of
Election to Exercise)
EXHIBIT B
Form of Certificate of Designation
of Series A Participating Cumulative Preference Stock
iii
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated as of December 31, 1996 between UtiliCorp United
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust Company
of New York, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which
term shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding at
the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on December 31, 1996 (the
"Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may
hereafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Rights Agreement) with
respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the
Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or
the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined). Each Right shall
initially represent the right to purchase one one-thousandths (1/1000ths) of a
share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preference Stock, no par value, of
the Company (the "Preference Stock"), having the powers, rights and preferences
set forth in the Certificate of Designations attached as Exhibit A.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who is
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock on the date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a
result of an acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until
such time hereafter or thereafter as any of such Persons shall become the
Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a stock dividend or stock split)
of any additional shares of Common Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock but who acquired
Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock without any plan or
intention to seek or affect control of the Company, if such Person promptly
enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest, and thereafter
promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power, including
voting, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares of Common Stock (or
securities convertible into,
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exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person
ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock or (iii) who Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock
consisting solely of one or more of (A) shares of Common Stock Beneficially
Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted to such Person
by the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire,
the Company entered into prior to a Flip-in Date, (B) shares of Common
Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for
Common Stock) Beneficially Owned by such Person or its Affiliates or
Associates at the time of grant of such option, (C) shares of Common Stock
(or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for
Common Stock) acquired by Affiliates or Associates of such Person after the
time of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (D) Common Stock (or securities
convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) which
are held by such Person in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like or
otherwise held in a fiduciary capacity, that are beneficially owned by
third persons who are not Affiliates or Associates of such Person or acting
together with such Person to hold such shares, or which are held by such
Person in respect of a debt previously contracted. In addition, the
Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock
ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company shall not be an Acquiring Person.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own", any securities as to
which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or
may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the
date of this Agreement, as well as any securities as to which such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has the right to become
Beneficial owner (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
after the passage of time or the occurrence of conditions) pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or
options, or otherwise; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed
the "Beneficial Owner", or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"Beneficially Own", any security (i) solely because such security has been
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is
accepted for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote
or direct the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given
in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten
holders of shares of a class of stock of the Company registered under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, except if such power (or the arrangements relating
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thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any similar provision of a comparable
or successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer or
director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities
of any other Person (i) by virtue of any actions such officer or director
takes in such capacity as an officer or director, or (ii) by virtue of
holding such position of officer or director. For purposes of this
Agreement, in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial owner, all
shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial owner shall be
deemed outstanding.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or in Kansas City,
Missouri are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York
City time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time on the next succeeding Business Day).
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company.
"Distribution Date" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of
the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the
Distribution Date that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on
which any Person commences a tender or exchange offer which, if
consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and
(ii) the Flip-in Date; PROVIDED, that if any tender or exchange offer
referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is canceled, terminated or
otherwise withdrawn prior to the Distribution Date without the purchase of
any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be deemed,
for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time, (iii) the Close of Business on the 10th
anniversary of the date of this Rights Agreement, and (iv) pursuant to an
agreement entered into prior to a Flip-in Date, upon the merger of the
Company into another corporation or with another corporation in which all
shares of Common Stock are either converted into cash and/or securities of
another corporation or, with respect to treasury shares and shares owned by
the other party to the merger or its affiliates, canceled.
"Flip-in Date" shall mean the tenth business day after any Shares
Acquisition Date or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of
the Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the
Flip-in Date that would otherwise have occurred.
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"Flip-over Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the
case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the
definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of
Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities
are being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event
and (ii) in the case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in
clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power being transferred in such Flip-over
Transaction or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary
of a corporation, the parent corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity
interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of
directors (or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the
business and affairs) of the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after a Flip-in Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the
Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with
any other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share
exchange or at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect
to any such consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person
"controls" the Board of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of
or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of capital stock in such
consolidation, merger or share exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is
not identical to the terms and arrangements relating to other holders of
the Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the transaction or series of
transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer
(or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer)
assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book
value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the
operating income or cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as
a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly
owned Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or
Associates or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by
the Company (or any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such
sale or transfer of assets, the Acquiring Person "controls" the Board of
Directors of the Company. An Acquiring Person shall be deemed to "control"
the Company's Board of Directors when, following a Flip-in Date, the
persons who were directors of the Company before the Flip-in Date shall
cease to constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities
(determined as described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days
through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.3 hereof shall have caused the closing prices
used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Days during such period
of 20 Trading Days not to be fully comparable with the closing price on
such date, each such closing price so used shall be appropriately adjusted
in order to make it fully comparable with the closing
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price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc. or, if the securities are not listed or admitted
to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which
the securities are listed or admitted to trading or, if the securities are
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation System or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange or 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 securities selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if on any such date the securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or traded
in the over-the-counter market, the closing price per share of such
securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of securities
on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association,
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement),
corporation or other entity.
"Preference Stock" shall mean the Series A Participating Cumulative
Preference Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences
set forth in the Certificate of Designation attached as Exhibit B hereto.
"Purchase Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole
Right. Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Purchase Price shall equal $115.00.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to $0.01.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
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.
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"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction
of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such securities are
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 LEGEND ON COMMON STOCK CERTIFICATES. Prior to the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, certificates for
Common Stock shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented
thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed
to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights
Agreement between UtiliCorp United Inc. (the "Company")
and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights
Agent, dated as of December 31, 1996 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights may be redeemed, may expire, or may be evidenced by
separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
charge within five days after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances, Rights issued to,
or which are or were Beneficially Owned by, Acquiring
Persons or their Affiliates or Associates (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement) and any subsequent
holder of such Rights may become null and void.
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding at the
Record Date or issued after the Record Date without the foregoing legend shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby
notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend and the transfer of any of
such certificates representing shares of Common Stock shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificates.
2.2 EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; SEPARATION OF RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11 and subject to
adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder thereof,
after the Distribution Date and prior
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to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth
of a share of Preference Stock.
(b) Until the Distribution Date, (i) no Right may be exercised and
(ii) each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock and will be transferable only together with, and will be
transferred by a transfer of, such associated share.
(c) Subject to this Section 2.2 and to Sections 3.1, 5.1, 5.10 and
5.11, after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights
(i) may be exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common
Stock. Promptly following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will mail to
each holder of record of Common Stock as of the Distribution Date (other than
any Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such
holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby
agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this
purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights
held by such holder at the Distribution Date and having 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
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and
(y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11, Rights may be
exercised on any Business Day after the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Time by submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise")
substantially in the form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed,
accompanied by payment in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money
order payable to the order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover
any transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer
involved in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or
delivery of certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name
other than that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to
Exercise accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.2(d), and subject to
Sections 3.1, 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)
(A) requisition from a transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number
of shares or other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizing its transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if
the Company elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares, requisition from the depositary selected by the
Company depositary receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased
or requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such
certificates, depositary receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the
order of the registered holder of
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such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of certificates or depositary
receipts) in such name or names as may be designated by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares 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,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Federal
Power Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable
law, rule or regulation, in connection with the issuance of any shares upon
exercise of Rights; and (iii) pay when due and payable any and all federal and
state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the original
issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the
exercise of Rights, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any
transfer tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved
in the transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery
of certificates for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights
being transferred or exercised.
2.3 ADJUSTMENTS TO PURCHASE PRICE; NUMBER OF RIGHTS.
(a) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date hereof
and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock
payable in Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common
Stock, (x) the Purchase Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock (the "Expansion Factor") that a holder of one
share of Common Stock immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or
combination would hold thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held
prior to such adjustment will become that number of Rights equal to the
Expansion Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be
distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the original
Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the shares issued in
respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each such share of
Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment
made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective
date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the date hereof and
prior to the Distribution Date issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than
in a transaction referred to
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in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common Stock so issued shall
automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be
evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the extent provided in
Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of shares of
Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the Distribution Date.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date hereof
and prior to the Distribution Date issue or distribute any securities or assets
in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant
to a regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)
whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any
such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or
otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the Purchase
Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable upon
exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to
adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Purchase Price made pursuant to this
Section 2.3 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to
the Purchase Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate.
(d) Rights Certificates shall represent the securities purchasable
under the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though such
certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time of
issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
2.4 DATE ON WHICH EXERCISE IS EFFECTIVE. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder
hereunder) was made; PROVIDED, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,
such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
2.5 EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive officer, its
President, any of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer, under its corporate seal
reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or any of its
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Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly after the Distribution Date, the Company will notify the
Rights Agent of such Distribution Date and will deliver Rights Certificates
executed by the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject
to Section 3.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such
Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c)
hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually
countersigned by the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of
countersignature thereof.
2.6 REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a) After the Distribution Date, the Company will cause to be kept a
register (the "Rights Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company will provide for the registration
and transfer of Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar"
for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and
registering Rights and transfers of Rights after the Distribution Date as herein
provided. In the event that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights
Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the Rights Register
at all reasonable times after the Distribution Date.
After the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Time, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.6(c) and (d), the Company will
execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the
holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.6, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
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(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section
5.1.
2.7 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights
Agent prior to the Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and
5.1, the Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and
deliver in exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number
of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights
Certificate has been acquired by a BONA FIDE purchaser, the Company shall
execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in
lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate
so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate
under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.7
in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and, subject to Section 3.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
2.8 PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, such Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the
Redemption Price and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered
holder of such Rights (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated shares
of Common Stock).
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2.9 DELIVERY AND CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATES. All Rights Certificates
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any
Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.9, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all cancelled Rights
Certificates to the Company.
2.10 AGREEMENT OF RIGHTS HOLDERS. Every holder of Rights by accepting the
same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every
other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, each Right will be transferable
only together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated
share of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration
of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the 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 for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or 5.4 hereof.
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 FLIP-IN.
(a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Date
shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right shall constitute
the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof in accordance with
the terms hereof (but subject to Sections 5.10
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and 5.11), that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market
Price on the Shares Acquisition Date equal to twice the Purchase Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Purchase Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that on or after such Shares Acquisition Date an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Shares Acquisition Date by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or
indirect, of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such
Rights (including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or
transfer such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights
Certificate is presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting
the same will not complete the certification set forth at the end of the form of
assignment or notice of election to exercise and provide such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial owner and its Affiliates and
Associates (or former Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as
the Company shall reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled
conclusively to deem the Beneficial owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and
accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not
transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
elect to exchange all (but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests
of holders of Rights generally in the event that after the Distribution Date an
event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.3(a) or
(b) shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such exchange ratio,
as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors
electing to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof
(specifying the steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange
for Rights) to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights
that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior
thereto by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon
the exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be
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dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of any applicable taxes and other governmental
charges payable by the holder was made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a)
or (c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for
Rights, the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preference
Stock, at a ratio of one one-thousandth of a share of Preference Stock for each
share of Common Stock so issuable.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares
or authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preference Stock of the
Company to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance
with Section 3.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of
stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take
the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action
as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Shares
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
return for the Purchase Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Purchase Price, or
(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable
law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof)
having a fair value equal to the Purchase Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the
Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of
such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.
3.2 FLIP-OVER.
(a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not enter into
any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over
Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a supplemental
agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the benefit of the holders of the
Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over
Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to
purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over Entity
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of
such Flip-over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Purchase Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Purchase Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in
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Section 2.3(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock)
and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,
by virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental
agreement, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement. The provisions of this Section 3.2 shall apply to successive
Flip-over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights,
warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or
instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect
the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of
Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 GENERAL.
(a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for
the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights
Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights
Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and,
from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted to be done 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.
(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 certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate
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.
4.2 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 is a party, or
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any corporation succeeding to the stockholder services business of the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will be the successor to the Rights Agent
under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 4.4 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights
Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights
Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights
Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates will 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 is 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.
4.3 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 will 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 deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to
be the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any
Vice President and by the Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary
of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate will be
full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good
faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
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(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof), nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 2.3, 3.1 or 3.2 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 after
receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 2.3 describing any such
adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or any Rights or as to whether
any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly
and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and 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 any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such person.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, 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
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agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or accountable for any act,
default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss
to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct,
provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
4.4 CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged
from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days' notice (or such lesser notice
as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail. If the Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after
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
any Rights (which holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may
apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights
Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such
a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
the United States or of any other State of the United States, in good standing,
which is authorized under such laws to exercise the powers of the Rights Agent
contemplated by this Agreement 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. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent will 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 will file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock. Failure
to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, 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.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 REDEMPTION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the Close of Business on the Flip-in Date, elect to redeem all
(but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price and
the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price either in cash or
shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of
Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in
value to the Redemption Price.
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(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or
securities, as determined by the Board of Directors. Promptly after the Rights
are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights
Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in
accordance with Section 5.9.
5.2 EXPIRATION. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or
redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof.
5.3 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 of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition,
in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Time pursuant to the
terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares of Common Stock or to
options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the
Distribution Date, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of
Common Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, in each case, (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 to the Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued,
(ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights
Certificates to any Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company and the Rights Agent may from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) prior to the Distribution
Date, to change or supplement the provisions hereunder which the Company may
deem necessary or desirable, or (iv) following the Distribution Date, to change
or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates. 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 5.4, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment unless the Rights Agent shall have
determined in good faith that such supplement or amendment would adversely
affect its interests
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under this Agreement. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the
holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders
of Common Stock.
5.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares
on behalf of the holders of Rights and pay to the registered holder of such
Rights the appropriate fraction of the price per share received upon such sale.
5.6 RIGHTS OF ACTION. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
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 will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 HOLDER OF RIGHTS NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER. No holder, as such, of any
Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose
the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights, 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 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTIONS. In case the Company shall propose after
the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit
occurrence of any Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which
such Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior
to the date of the taking of such proposed action.
20
<PAGE>
5.9 NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on
the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
UtiliCorp United Inc.
911 Main Street, Suite 2900
Kansas City, MO 64105
Attention: Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
First Chicago Trust Company of New York
525 Washington Boulevard, Suite 4660
Jersey City, NJ 07310
Attention: Tenders & Exchanges Administration
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made
by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder 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. Failure to give a notice pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken
hereunder.
5.10 SUSPENSION OF EXERCISABILITY. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company may
suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a reasonable period in order to
take such action or comply with such laws. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a public announcement stating
that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.
5.11 REGULATORY APPROVAL. The Rights may not be exercised or exchanged
pursuant to Sections 2.2 or 3.1 unless the Company shall have first obtained
such approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as may be required
pursuant to the Federal Power Act.
5.12 COSTS OF ENFORCEMENT. The Company agrees that if the Company or any
other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its
21
<PAGE>
obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the Company or such Person will
reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal
fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce such holder's rights
pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.13 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.
5.14 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
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
5.15 DETERMINATION AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ETC. The Board
of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. 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 of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.16 DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.17 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL
BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND FOR
ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH
STATE.
5.18 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.
5.19 SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than
those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
22
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
By: /s/ Michael D. Bruhn
-------------------------------------
Name: Michael D. Bruhn
Title: Vice President
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By: /s/ James Kuzmich
-------------------------------------
Name: James Kuzmich
Title: Customer Service Officer
23
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. W- ________ Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION
OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF
(AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY
OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
This certifies that , or registered assigns,
is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of , 1996 (as
amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between UtiliCorp United
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust Company of
New York, a New York corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which
term shall include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the Close of Business (as such
term is defined in the Rights Agreement) on ,
one one-thousandth of a fully paid share of Series A Participating Cumulative
Preference Stock, no par value (the "Preference Stock"), of the Company (subject
to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the Purchase Price
referred to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate
with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal office
<PAGE>
of the Rights Agent in New York, New York. The Purchase Price shall initially
be $115.00 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Preference Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose,
may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like
tenor evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder
shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right
evidenced by this Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain
circumstances, at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (b)
exchanged by the Company under certain
2
<PAGE>
circumstances, at its option, for one share of Common Stock or one
one-thousandth of a share of Preference Stock per Right (or, in certain cases,
other securities or assets of the Company), subject in each case to adjustment
in certain events 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 any
securities 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 Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged 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.
3
<PAGE>
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Date:
-----------------
ATTEST: UTILICORP UNITED INC.
By
- ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------
Secretary
Countersigned:
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By:
---------------------------
Authorized Signature
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 this 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-named Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:
------------------
Signature Guaranteed:
------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon the
face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee Medallion program), pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
<PAGE>
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
-------------------------------------
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
2
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: UTILICORP UNITED INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _____________________
whole Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the
shares of Preference Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and
requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
-------------------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------------
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
-------------------------------------------
Address:
-----------------------------------
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------
Dated:
------------------
<PAGE>
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written upon the
face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee Medallion program), pursuant to
SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of
Rights and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by the attached
Rights Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been, Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
---------------------------------
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial owner
of the Rights. evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
SERIES A
PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE
PREFERENCE STOCK
Pursuant to Sections 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
UtiliCorp United Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by
virtue of The General Corporation Law of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of UtiliCorp United Inc. (the
"Corporation") the following resolution was duly adopted creating 60,000 shares
of Preference Stock, designated as Series A Participating Cumulative Preference
Stock.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of
the Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preference Stock of the
Corporation be, and it hereby is created, and the designation and amount
thereof and the relative rights, preferences and limitations thereof (in
addition to the provisions set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation,
of the Corporation, which are applicable to the Preference Stock of all
classes and series) are as follows:
1. DESIGNATION AND NUMBER. The designation of this series is the "Series
A Participating Cumulative Preference Stock" (hereinafter, this "SERIES").
The number of shares initially constituting this Series shall be sixty thousand
(60,000) shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if more than a total of 60,000 shares
of this Series shall be issuable upon the exercise of Rights (the "Rights")
issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of December 31, 1996, between
the Corporation and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, a New York
corporation, as Rights Agent (the"Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, shall direct by resolution or resolutions that a
certificate be properly executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, in
<PAGE>
accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, providing for the total
number of shares of this Series authorized to be issued to be increased (to the
extent that the Articles of Incorporation then permits) to the largest number of
whole shares (rounded up to the nearest whole number) issuable upon exercise of
such Rights.
2. DIVIDENDS.
a. Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of shares
of any other series of Preference Stock or other class of capital stock of the
Corporation ranking prior and superior to the shares of this Series with respect
to dividends, the holders of shares of this Series shall be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of the assets of the
Corporation legally available therefor, (1) quarterly dividends payable on the
first day of each of March, June, September and December (each such date being
referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or a
fraction of a share of this Series, in the amount of $.01 per whole share
(rounded to the nearest cent) less the amount of all cash dividends declared on
this Series pursuant to the following clause (2) since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
this Series (the total of which shall not, in any event, be less than zero), and
(2) dividends payable in cash on the payment date for each cash dividend
declared on the Common Stock in an amount per whole share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the Formula Number (as hereinafter defined) then in
effect times the cash dividends then to be paid on each share of Common Stock,
par value $1.00, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock"). In addition, if the
Corporation shall pay any dividend or make any distribution on the Common Stock
payable in assets, securities or other forms of noncash consideration (other
than dividends or distributions solely in shares of Common Stock), then, in each
such case, the Corporation shall simultaneously pay or make on each outstanding
whole share of this Series a dividend or distribution in like kind equal to the
Formula Number then in effect times such dividend or distribution on each share
of the Common Stock. As used herein, the "Formula Number" shall be 1,000;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if at any time after December 31, 1996, the Corporation
shall (i) declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock or make any distribution on the Common Stock in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide (by a stock split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of
Common Stock into a larger number of shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine (by
a reverse stock split or otherwise) the outstanding shares of Common Stock into
a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such event the Formula
Number shall be adjusted to a number determined by multiplying the Formula
Number in effect immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that are outstanding immediately
after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to such event (and rounding the
result to the nearest whole number); and PROVIDED FURTHER, that, if at any time
after December 31, 1996, the Corporation shall issue any shares of its capital
stock in a merger, reclassification, or change of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, then in each such event the Formula Number shall be appropriately
adjusted to reflect such merger, reclassification or change so that each share
of Preferred Stock
2
<PAGE>
continues to be the economic equivalent of a Formula Number of shares of Common
Stock prior to such merger, reclassification or change.
b. The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on this
Series as provided in Section 2(a) immediately prior to or at the same time it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
or distribution solely in shares of Common Stock); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, in
the event no dividend or distribution (other than a dividend or distribution in
shares of Common Stock) shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.01 per share on this Series
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of this Series entitled to receive a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be the same as the record date for any
corresponding dividend or distribution on the Common Stock.
c. Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of this Series from and after the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next
preceding the date of original issue of such shares of this Series; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that dividends on such shares which are originally issued after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of this Series entitled
to receive a quarterly dividend and on or prior to the next succeeding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from and after
such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends
on shares of this Series which are originally issued prior to the record date
for the determination of holders of shares of this Series entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date shall be
calculated as if cumulative from and after the last day of the fiscal quarter
next preceding the date of original issuance of such shares. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of this Series
in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued
and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding.
d. So long as any shares of this Series are outstanding, no
dividends or other distributions shall be declared, paid or distributed, or set
aside for payment or distribution, on the Common Stock unless, in each case, the
dividend required by this Section 2 to be declared on this Series shall have
been declared.
e. The holders of the shares of this Series shall not be entitled to
receive any dividends or other distributions except as provided herein.
3. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation ("LIQUIDATION"), whether voluntary or involuntary,
no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking
junior to the Series A Preference Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of
this Series shall have received an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (x) $.01 per whole share or
(y) an aggregate amount per share
3
<PAGE>
equal to the Formula Number then in effect times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with this Series, except distributions made ratably on this Series
and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up.
If upon any Liquidation, the assets of the Corporation or proceeds thereof
distributable among the holders of shares of this Series and of any class or
series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking equally with this Series as
to distribution of assets upon Liquidation shall be insufficient to pay in full
the preferential amounts payable to such holders, then such assets or the
proceeds thereof shall be distributed among such holders ratably in accordance
with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts
payable thereon were paid in full.
4. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of this Series shall have the
following voting rights:
a. Unless and until dividends payable on any shares of this Series
shall be in arrears in an amount equivalent to one and one-half times the annual
dividend, or more, per share, the holders of shares of this Series shall have no
voting power or rights, except as otherwise provided herein, by the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation or by law. If and when dividends payable on
any shares of this Series shall be in arrears in an amount equivalent to one and
one-half times the annual dividend or more, per share, and thereafter until all
dividends on shares of this Series in arrears shall have been paid, the holders
of this Series, together with any other class or series of capital stock of the
Corporation which is by its terms expressly made equal as to dividends to this
Series (for purposes of this Section 3, this Series, together with all such
other classes and series, is hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"PREFERENCE STOCK"), voting as a single class separate from the holders of all
other classes of capital stock, shall be entitled to elect two directors. The
terms of office as directors of all persons who may be directors of the
Corporation shall terminate upon the election of directors by the holders of the
Preference Stock. The holders of the Common Stock shall have the right to elect
the remaining directors of the Corporation. If the holders of the Preference
Stock have not exercised their right to elect directors of the Corporation
because of the lack of a quorum consisting of the holders of a majority of the
Preference Stock, then the said directors shall be elected by the directors
whose term of office is thus terminated, and in that event, such elected
directors shall hold office for the interim period, pending such time as a
quorum of the holders of the Preference Stock shall be present at a meeting held
for the election of directors.
b. If and when all dividends then in arrears on the Preference Stock
then outstanding shall be paid (and such dividends shall be declared and paid
out of any funds legally available therefor as soon as reasonably practicable),
the holders of shares of the Preference Stock shall be divested of any special
right with respect to the election of directors and the voting power of the
holders of shares of the Preference Stock and the Common Stock shall revert to
the status existing before the first dividend payment date on which dividends on
any shares of the Preference Stock were not paid in full, but always subject to
the same provisions for vesting such special rights in the holders of shares of
the Preference Stock in case of further like arrears in payment
4
<PAGE>
of dividends thereon. Upon the termination of any such special voting right,
the terms of office of all persons who may have been elected directors of the
Corporation by vote of the holders of the Preference Stock, as a class, pursuant
to such special voting right shall forthwith terminate, and the resulting
vacancies shall be filled by a vote of a majority of the remaining directors.
c. In case of any vacancy in the office of a director occurring
among the directors elected by the holders of the Preference Stock voting as a
single class separate from the holders of all other class of capital stock, the
remaining director elected by the holders of the Preference Stock may elect a
successor to hold office for the unexpired term of the director whose place
shall be vacant. In the event of simultaneous vacancies among directors elected
by the holders of the Preference Stock, an election by the holders of the
Preference Stock, pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3, will be held.
d. Whenever the right shall have accrued to the holders of the
Preference Stock to elect directors, voting as a single class, separate from the
holders of all other classes of capital stock, then upon request in writing
signed by any holder of the Preference Stock entitled to vote, delivered by
registered mail or in person to the president, a vice president or secretary of
the Corporation, it shall be the duty of such officer forthwith to cause notice
to be given to the shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting to be held at such
time as such officer may fix, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)
days after the receipt of such request, for the purpose of electing directors
during such time as the holders of the Preference Stock shall have the special
right, voting as a single class, separate from the holders of all other classes
of capital stock to elect directors, the presence in person or by proxy of the
holders of a majority of the outstanding Preference Stock shall be required to
constitute a quorum of such class for the election of directors, and the
presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of all other classes
of capital stock outstanding at the time, and not entitled to such special
right, shall be required to constitute a quorum of such other classes for the
election of directors.
5. RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN CORPORATION ACTION.
a. Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on this Series as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and
until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not
declared, on shares of this Series outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not
i. declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to this Series;
ii. declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with this Series, except dividends
paid ratably on this Series and all such parity stock on which dividends
are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
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iii. redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with this Series; PROVIDED that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of
any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to this Series; or
iv. purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of this Series, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with this
Series, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by
publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration
of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective
series or classes.
b. The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
6. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares
of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities,
cash or any other property, then in any such case, the then outstanding shares
of this Series shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an
amount per share equal to the Formula Number then in effect times the aggregate
amount of stock, securities, cash or any other property (payable in kind), as
the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is exchanged
or changed. In the event both this Section 6 and Section 2 appear to apply to a
transaction, this Section 6 will control.
7. NO REDEMPTION; NO SINKING FUND.
a. The shares of this Series shall not be subject to redemption by
the Corporation or at the option of any holder of this Series; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Corporation may purchase or otherwise acquire outstanding
shares of this Series in the open market or by offer to any holder or holders of
shares of this Series.
b. The shares of this Series shall not be subject to or entitled to
the operation of a retirement or sinking fund.
8. RANKING. This Series shall rank junior to all other series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors shall
specifically determine otherwise in fixing the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series
and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof.
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9. FRACTIONAL SHARES. This Series shall be issuable upon exercise of the
Rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement in whole shares or in any
fraction of a share that is one one thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a share or any
integral multiple of such fraction which shall entitle the holder, in proportion
to such holder's fractional shares, to receive dividends, exercise voting
rights, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights
of holders of this Series. In lieu of fractional shares, the Corporation, prior
to the first issuance of a share or a fraction of a share of this Series, may
elect (1) to make a cash payment as provided in the Rights Agreement for
fractions of a share other than one one-thousandths (1/1,000ths) of a share or
any integral multiple thereof or (2) to issue depository receipts evidencing
such authorized fraction of a share of this Series pursuant to an appropriate
agreement between the Corporation and a depository selected by the Corporation;
PROVIDED that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depository
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled as holders of this Series.
10. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of this Series purchased or otherwise
acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon
their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preference Stock,
without designation as to series until such shares are once more designated as
part of a particular series by the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions
of Article Four of the Certificate of Incorporation.
11. AMENDMENT. None of the powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional and other special rights of this Series as provided
herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation shall be amended in any manner
which would alter or change the powers, preferences, rights or privileges of the
holders of this Series so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of this
Series, voting as a separate class; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such amendment
approved by the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of this
Series shall be deemed to apply to the powers, preferences, rights or privileges
of any holder of shares of this Series originally issued upon exercise of a
Right after the time of such approval without the approval of such holder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on behalf
of the Corporation by its President this 30th day of December, 1996.
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
President
STATE OF MISSOURI )
) ss.
COUNTY OF JACKSON )
Before me, the undersigned Notary Public in and for said county and state,
this day personally appeared _________________________, personally known to me
to be the President of UTILICORP UNITED INC., and who executed the foregoing
instrument as President of UTILICORP UNITED INC. and being first duly sworn,
acknowledged reading in full and fully understanding the foregoing, acknowledged
the facts therein stated to be true and correct, and who further acknowledged
the execution of the same as the voluntary act of the Corporation.
Witness my hand and seal this day of , .
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Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
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