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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MINNESOTA 41-1356476
(State of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
605 North Highway 169, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55441
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [ ]
It this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [X]
Securities Act registration file number to which this form relates:
Not applicable.
(If applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class on which Each Class
to be so Registered is to be Registered
------------------- -------------------
Not applicable Not applicable
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
(Title of class)
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
On July 24, 1998, the Board of Directors of Computer Network
Technology Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding
share of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the
Company. The dividend is payable to holders of record of Common Shares as of the
close of business on August 10, 1998 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $50 per one one-thousandth of
a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). A copy of
the Rights Agreement, which includes as Exhibit B thereto, the form of Right
Certificate, and as Exhibit C thereto, the Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Shares (the "Summary"), is Exhibit 1 hereto, and is incorporated
herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used
herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Rights Agreement. The
following description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to said Exhibit 1.
Until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the tenth
day following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) the close of business on
the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons
becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of
an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the
"Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the
Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common
Share certificate, with a copy of the Summary attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary being
attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable
following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights
("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares
as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on July 23, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
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The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths
interests in a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a
stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $0.01 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled
to an aggregate payment of 1,000 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
1,000 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one Common Share.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
or its affiliate, associate or transferee (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event
that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold
after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person in a transaction with
such Acquiring Person or group, proper provision will be made so that each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares
of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction
will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In each
case, there are exceptions for transactions that have received the prior
approval of the Board of Directors.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such
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person or group which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
(or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right, payable in cash or Common
Shares (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made
effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption
of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares
then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such
time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS
1. Rights Agreement, dated as of July 24, 1998, between the
Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. including
the Form of Right Certificate and the Summary of Rights to
Purchase Preferred Shares attached thereto as Exhibits B and
C, respectively.
[Signatures on next page]
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: July 29, 1998 COMPUTER NETWORK
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
By /s/ Gregory T. Barnum
-------------------------------------
Gregory T. Barnum
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT PAGE NUMBER
- ------- ---------------------- -----------
1 Rights Agreement, dated as of July 24, 1998,
between the Company and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services L.L.C., as Rights Agent
including the Form of Right Certificate and
the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares attached thereto as Exhibits B and C,
respectively.
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EXHIBIT 1
================================================================================
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and between
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent
Dated as of July 24, 1998
================================================================================
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.................................................1
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT.........................................3
SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.........................................3
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES..........................................5
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION...................................5
SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES;
MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES........................6
SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS.......6
SECTION 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES..................7
SECTION 9. AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES....................................8
SECTION 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE.......................................8
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF
RIGHTS.........................................................................8
SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES........14
SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNING
POWER.........................................................................14
SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES...........................16
SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION..................................................17
SECTION 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS........................................17
SECTION 17. RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.................18
SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.......................................18
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SECTION 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.........19
SECTION 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT............................................19
SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT............................................21
SECTION 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES................................21
SECTION 23. REDEMPTION........................................................21
SECTION 24. EXCHANGE..........................................................22
SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS..........................................23
SECTION 26. NOTICES...........................................................24
SECTION 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS........................................24
SECTION 28. DETERMINATIONS, AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.............25
SECTION 29. SUCCESSORS........................................................25
SECTION 30. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT........................................25
SECTION 31. SEVERABILITY......................................................25
SECTION 32. GOVERNING LAW.....................................................25
SECTION 33. COUNTERPARTS......................................................26
SECTION 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS..............................................26
EXHIBIT A.....................................................................28
EXHIBIT B.....................................................................33
EXHIBIT C.....................................................................38
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Agreement, dated as of the 24th day of July, 1998, by and between
Computer Network Technology Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the
"Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a New Jersey limited
liability company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the close of business
on August 10, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to
purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right, subject to adjustment as
provided herein, with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined). Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person,
shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but
shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common
Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the
result of (A) a Permitted Transaction, or (B) an acquisition of Common
Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares
outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially
owned by such Person to 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the Common Shares of the Company
then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall,
after such share purchases by the Company, becomes the Beneficial Owner
of any additional Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to
a Permitted Transaction), then such Person shall be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person". Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable (and
in all events within five days following such determination) a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer
be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
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(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and
between underwriters and selling group members with respect to
a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other
than these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on
behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or
to beneficially own, any security if the agreement, engagement
or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from
a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response
to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations
promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then
reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements
with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to Section l(c)(ii)(B)) or
disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number
of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person
would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., New York, New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if
such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York, New
York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company
shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company. "Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with
the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person
is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3 hereof.
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(h) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7 hereof.
(i) "Interested Stockholder" shall mean any Acquiring Person
or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any other
Person in which any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate has
an interest, or any other Person acting directly or indirectly on
behalf of or in concert with any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or
Associate.
(j) "Permitted Transaction" shall mean an action or
transaction or series of related actions or transactions, including,
but not limited to, a purchase or series of related purchases of Common
Shares, which prior to the consummation thereof, and based upon its
good faith consideration of all factors that it deems to be relevant
(including, but not limited to, the long-term value of the Company and
prices that could reasonably be expected if the Company or its assets
were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value), the
Board of Directors of the Company determines to be fair to and
otherwise in the best interests of the holders of the Common Shares.
(k) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise)
of such entity.
(l) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate
of Designations Preferences and Rights attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit A.
(m) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7 hereof.
(n) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(o) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.
(p) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting
equity securities or equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the close of
business on tenth business day (or such later date as may be determined
by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement by any
Person (other than the
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Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of
the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would
result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (including any such
date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
issuance of the Rights, the earlier of such dates being herein referred
to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates
for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which
certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by
separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right
Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer
of Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date,
the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will
countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the
Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, insured,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter,
the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the
"Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each
record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders
thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the Final Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or
without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in
the last sentence of this paragraph (c) ) after the Record Date but
prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or
the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written
on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend, provided,
however, that in the event that the name of the Company changes, the
name of the Company may be inserted in such legend in the place of
"Computer Network Technology Corporation":
"This certificate also evidences and entitles the
holder hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Rights
Agreement between Computer Network Technology Corporation and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. as Rights Agent,
dated as of July 24, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal executive offices of Computer Network
Technology Corporation. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced
by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by
this certificate. Computer
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Network Technology Corporation will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) may become null and void."
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend,
until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone,
and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which
are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and
may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries
or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the
Rights, may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Executive Vice Presidents, or
its Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature, shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by
the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In
case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to
be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.
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Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. Subject
to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business
on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the
earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right
Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing
Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof or that have been
exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined
or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a
Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided in
Sections 7(e) and 24 hereof, in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the
form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed,
to the Rights Agent at the principal office of the Rights Agent,
together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth
of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior
to the earliest of (i) the close of business on July 23, 2008 ("Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the
time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24
hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall
initially be $50, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful
money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c)
below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares
to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax
required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified
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check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the
Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the
number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby
irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, or (B) requisition from the depositary agent depositary
receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby
directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid
in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14
hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or
names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate,
after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered
holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Anything in this Agreement contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, from and after the time that a Person first becomes an
Acquiring Person, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) the Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person, (ii) a
transferee of the Acquiring Person (or of any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes
such, or (iii) a transferee of the Acquiring Person (or of any
Affiliate or Associate thereof) who becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such
Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests
in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring
Person has a continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement
or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance
of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever
with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other
Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or
transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated
to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the
occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7
unless such registered holder shall have provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial
owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for
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cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall
be cancelled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement.
The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement,
and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate
purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Right Certificates to the Company,
or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Right
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares. The Company covenants and
agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued Preferred Shares or any Preferred Shares held in its
treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7. The
Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be
necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares. The Company further covenants
and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state
transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise
of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax
which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right
Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates
or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of,
the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for
exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for
Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have
been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at
the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise
of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights
shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to
receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights,
and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by each Right
and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the
Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B)
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subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of
Preferred Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any
such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11
(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record
date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number
and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date,
shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any
Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive
the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock
which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to
such date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer
books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such
exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to
be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the
Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 24 of this
Agreement, in the event any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have a right
to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then
current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares
of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the
then current per share market price of the Company's Common
Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the
date of the occurrence of such event; provided, however, that
if the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the
foregoing adjustment is also subject to the provisions of
Section 13 hereof, then only the provisions of Section 13
hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be made pursuant to
this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient
Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but
unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize
additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the
Rights. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall
determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
additional Common Shares could be authorized to permit such
exercise, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights for a period not to exceed 90 days (and not beyond the
Final Expiration Date) in order to seek any authorization of
additional Common Shares. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended,
as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. In the event the Company
shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize such additional Common
Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common Share
that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a
number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the
current per share market price of one Preferred Share (as
defined in Section 11(d)) multiplied by such number or
fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one
Common Share as of the date of issuance of such Preferred
Shares or fraction thereof.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred
Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within
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45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase
Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and
preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent preferred shares")) or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred
shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share (or
having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the then
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in
Section 11 (d)) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect
after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred
Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to
be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred
Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so
to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no
event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right
be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of
the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which
shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose
of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall
be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any
such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in
which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly
cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section
11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred
Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to
be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to
one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such current
per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one
Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital
stock of the Company to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the
Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security"
for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i) ) on any date shall
be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
share of such Security for
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the 30 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter
defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however,
that in the event that the current per share market price of
the Security is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend
or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such
Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B)
any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after
the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
record date for such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect
the current market price per share equivalent of such
Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the
high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is
not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares
shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in
Section 11 (d)(i). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly
traded, the "current per share market price" of the Preferred
Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per
share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof), multiplied by one thousand. If neither
the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held
or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required
unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments
which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall
be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest
cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one
ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the
earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which
requires such adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the
right to exercise any Rights.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital
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stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number
of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as
nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and
the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with respect to the
Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the
right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time
hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price
as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each
Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment
shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
(calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share)
obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a
share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y)
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of
the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the
Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in
substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the
Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the
nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to
adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the
adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to
be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price
is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the
public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right
Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement
for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner
provided for herein and shall be registered in the names of the holders
of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the
public announcement.
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(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates
theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase
Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which
were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below one one-thousandth of the then par
value, if any, of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may
validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares
at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right
exercised after such record date of the Preferred Shares and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due
bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to
receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions
in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly
for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price,
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares,
dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance
of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11
(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares
shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i)
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common
Shares, then in any such case (A) the number of one one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of
each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior
to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
Common Shares outstanding immediately before such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately after such event, and (B) each Common Share outstanding
immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that
number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately prior
to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided
for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or
consolidation is effected.
(o) From and after a Shares Acquisition Date, the Company
shall not take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action the
purpose of which is to, or if at the time such action
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is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that the effect of such action is
to, materially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to
be afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) In the event that, on or following the time that a Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any Interested
Stockholder or, if in such merger or consolidation all holders of
Common Stock are not treated alike, any other Person, (y) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with, any Interested Stockholder or,
if in such merger or consolidation all holders of Common Stock are not
treated alike, any other Person, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger
(other than, in a case of any transaction described in (x) or (y), a
merger or consolidation which would result in all of the securities
generally entitled to vote in the election of directors ("Voting
Securities") of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into securities of the surviving entity) all of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation and the holders of such
securities not having changed as a result of such merger or
consolidation), or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or
one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Interested
Stockholder or Stockholders or, if in such transaction all holders of
Common Stock are not treated alike, any other Person (other than the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions
each of which does not violate Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each
such case (except as part of a Permitted Transaction), proper provision
shall be made so that (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in
Sections 7(e) and 24 hereof, shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current
Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in
lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of freely tradeable Common Shares
of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), not subject to any
liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims,
as shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without taking into
account any adjustment previously made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii))
and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined
pursuant to Section 11 (d) hereof) on the date of consummation of such
Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be
automatically liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section
13 Event, all of the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to
refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal
Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited
to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
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necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the Common
Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean (i) in the case of any
transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of
Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into
which Common Shares of the Company are converted in such merger or
consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is
the other party to such merger or consolidation (including, if
applicable, the Company if it is the surviving corporation); and (ii)
in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first
sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions; provided, however, that in any of the
foregoing cases, (1) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at
such time and have not been continuously over the preceding 12-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares
of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer
to such other Person; (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly
or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or
more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall
refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares
having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in case such Person
is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or
more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of
the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if
such party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint venturers
and the Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations
set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or
indirect interests in such Person bear to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of its authorized Common Shares which have not been
issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the
Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set
forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation merger, sale or transfer mentioned in paragraph (a) of
this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use
its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A)
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and
(B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting
the requirements of the Act) until the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights under the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be
necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party which comply in
all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10
under the Exchange Act.
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The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The rights under this
Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and adjustments
under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereof.
(d) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the
kind referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction
there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding
or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the
consummation of such transaction, would substantially diminish or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, in case the
Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction of the kind
referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or other
instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have
the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection
with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction of the
kind referred to in this Section 13, Common Shares of such Principal
Party at less than the then current per share market price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities exercisable for or convertible
into Common Shares of such Principal Party at less than such then
current market price (other than to holder of Rights pursuant to this
Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar
provisions in connection with the issuance of Common Shares of such
Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13; then, in such
event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless
prior thereto the provision in question of such Principal Party shall
have been canceled, waived or amended so as to avoid any of the effects
referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, or the
authorized securities shall have been redeemed, so that the applicable
provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional
Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For
the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole
Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be
the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular
way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if
on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market
maker is making
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a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or
to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in
integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts,
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a
depositary selected by it; provided that such agreement shall provide
that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial
owners of the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts.
In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples
of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to
the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights
are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred
Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right 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.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed
or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;
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(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any
liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its
inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by
reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a
governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any
statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by
any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation or for any delay caused by the necessity
to effect a registration statement with the SEC or to obtain
shareholder approval; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises. Anything to the
contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for
special, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind
whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent
has been advised of the likelihood of such damages.
The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for,
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with,
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities of
the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement, or other paper or
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document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or
otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent shall be a company or any corporation succeeding to the stock transfer or
corporate trust powers of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall
be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution
or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto; provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a
successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the
time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates
shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this
Agreement.
In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to
taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer,
the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and
such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions
of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
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(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company
and any other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement
or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or
be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals
are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except
its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights
becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment
in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount
thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or
adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to
make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this
Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred
Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed,
acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments
and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for
the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of
this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or
the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice
or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be
liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in
accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in
acting while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights
or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract
with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely
as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein
shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for
the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder
either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights
Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default,
neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss
to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or
misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and
continued employment thereof.
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Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be
either (A) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any
state of the United States, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million, or (B) an affiliate of such a corporation. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at
a redemption price of $.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as
the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the Board of
Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with
such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
either in Common Shares (based on the "current per share market price",
as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the Common Shares at the time of
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redemption) or cash; provided, however, that if the Company elects to
pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares, the Company shall not be
required to issue any fractional Common Shares, and the number of
Common Shares issuable to each holder of Rights shall be rounded down
to the next whole share. Except for the obligation of the Company to
pay the Redemption Price, the Board of Directors of the Company and the
Company shall not have any liability to any person as a result of the
redemption of rights pursuant to this Section 23.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph
(a) of this Section 23, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only
right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any
such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any
defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a notice
of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books
of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem,
acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner
other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section
24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option,
at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all
or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not
include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) into Common Shares at an exchange ratio of
one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time
after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common
Shares then outstanding, other than pursuant to a Permitted
Transaction.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph
(a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only
right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that
number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such
holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the
validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of
any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange will state the method by which the
22
<PAGE>
exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the
event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of
Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit
any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section
24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the
Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be
unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such
additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common
Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a
number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current
per share market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number
or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one
Common Share as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or
fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with
regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be
issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall
be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or
to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the
holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or
to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv)
to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any
sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50%
or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the
Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall
give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section
26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of
rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by
the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of
any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten days prior
to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least ten days prior to the
23
<PAGE>
date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares,
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section
26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall
describe such event and the consequences of such event to holders of
Rights under Section 11 (a) (ii) hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Computer Network Technology Corporation
609 North Highway 169
Plymouth, MN 55441
Attention: President
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
11 Founders Plaza, 11th Floor
East Hartford, CT 06108
Attention: Beverly Nepand
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Right Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable (including to extend the
period during which the rights may be redeemed), any such supplement or
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, this Agreement may not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof). Without limiting the foregoing,
the Company may at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth in
Sections l(a) and 3(a) to not less than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and
the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares then known by the
Company to be beneficially owned by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or
24
<PAGE>
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) and (ii) 10%. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an executive officer of the Company which states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section
27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment, provided that
such supplement or amendment does not adversely affect the rights or obligations
of the Rights Agent under Section 18 or Section 20 of 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 Shares.
Section 28. Determinations, and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
connection with the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement and
whether any proposed amendment adversely affects the interests of the holders of
Right Certificates). For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of Common Shares or other securities outstanding at any particular time,
including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such
outstanding Common Shares or any other securities of which any Person is the
Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in
effect on the date 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 upon the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Right Certificates and all other parties, and
(y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Right
Certificates.
Section 29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of said parties and their respective
successors and assigns.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Minnesota 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; provided, however, that all provisions
regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be
25
<PAGE>
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely with such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original, and all of which shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument. Facsimile signatures shall be binding to the same extent as
originals.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, and shall not
control or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.
[Signatures on next page]
26
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION,
By /s/ Gregory T. Barnum
------------------------------
Name: Gregory T. Barnum
Title: Chief Financial Officer
------------------------
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
By /s/ Jacqueline M. Wadsworth
------------------------------
Name: Jacqueline M. Wadsworth
Title: Vice President
------------------------
27
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK ($.01 Par Value Per Share)
OF
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 302A.401of the Minnesota Business Corporations Act
---------------------
The undersigned Secretary of Computer Network Technology Corporation
hereby certifies that this Certificate of Designations, References and Rights
and the following resolution were duly adopted according to Chapter 302A of the
Minnesota Statutes by the Board of Directors of Computer Network Technology
Corporation (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and existing by virtue
of the Minnesota Business Corporations Act ("MBCA") of the State of Minnesota,
on July 24, 1998:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by its Articles of Incorporation, a Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of the Corporation is hereby created, and the
designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of such series,
and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Number of Shares. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock" ("Series A Preferred Stock"). The number of shares initially constituting
the Series A Stock shall be 35,000; provided, however, that, if more than a
total of 35,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be at any time issuable
upon the exercise of Rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, dated as of July 24, 1998, between the Corporation and Chasemellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, as amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"), the Board of Directors, pursuant to Section 302A.401 of the
Articles, shall direct by resolution or resolutions that a certificate be
properly executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 302A.011 Subd. 11 thereof, providing for the total number
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock authorized to be issued to be increased or
decreased (to the extent that the Articles of Incorporation then permits) to the
largest number of whole shares (rounded up to the nearest whole number) then
issuable upon exercise of such Rights.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and
superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common Stock and of any other junior stock, shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors
out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly
28
<PAGE>
dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September
and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction
of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded
to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $0.01 or (ii) subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends
or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since
the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with
respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred
Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of this
Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on
the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common
Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall
have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.01 per share on the Series A
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares,
unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on
such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such
shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of
such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be
allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at
the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
29
<PAGE>
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of
Incorporation, in any Preferred Stock Designation or in any certificate
of designations creating any similar stock, or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common
Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general
voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted
to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by
law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent
they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock and any other
capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights as set
forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding
up) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except
dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all
such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears
in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to
the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation
may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares
of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock
of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock; or
30
<PAGE>
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer
made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board
of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as
the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall
determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable
treatment among the respective series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
paragraph (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such
shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall
upon their retirement become authorized but unissued shares of Series A
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Series A
Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein or in any Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred
Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to 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 $1.00 per share or an
aggregate amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be
distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all 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; provided,
however, that in the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or
31
<PAGE>
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary,
junior to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed and subscribed this Certificate as
of this 24th day of July, 1998.
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION,
By
-------------------------------------
Name: Gregory T. Barnum
Title: Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary,
Computer Network Technology Corporation
32
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
Form of Right Certificate
Certificate No. R- Rights _______
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 23, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE UPON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET
FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO ANY PERSON WHO BECOMES AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Right Certificate
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of
the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof,
subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated
as of July 24, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"),
between Computer Network Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Rights Agent"),
to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such
term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the earlier of (i) 5:00
P.M., New York, New York time, on July 23, 2008, or (ii) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed or exchanged (as defined below), at the principal office of
the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth of a fully paid nonassessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $50 per one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise
hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of July 24, 1998, based upon the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right
33
<PAGE>
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of
$.01 per Right, payable in cash or the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Common Stock. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of _______________________, 199__.
COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION,
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
----------------------------
COUNTERSIGNED:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
----------------------------
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<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _____________________________________________________ hereby
sells, assigns and transfers unto
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _____________________, ________
_____________________________________ Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
________________________________________________________________________________
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) and (2) after due inquiry
and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement).
_____________________________________ Signature
35
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate (Continued)
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by
the Right Certificate.)
To: COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such
Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or other identifying number
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated:_____________________________
_____________________________________ Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
________________________________________________________________________________
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of
a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) and (2) after due inquiry
and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement).
_____________________________________ Signature
36
<PAGE>
NOTICE
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not
completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of
the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement), and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
37
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
FORM OF
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
The Board of Directors of Computer Network Technology Corporation (the
"Company") has declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to holders of
record of Common Shares as of the close of business on August 10, 1998 (the
"Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a
price of $50 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) ten business days (or such later date as may
be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any
person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights
being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the
Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such
separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on July 23, 1998 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
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<PAGE>
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or
securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or
retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $0.01 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled
to an aggregate payment of 1,000 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares.
Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive
1,000 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by
customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one Common Share.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
or its affiliate, associate or transferee (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event
that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold
after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person in a transaction with
such Acquiring Person or group, proper provision will be made so that each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares
of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction
will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. In each
case, there are exceptions for transactions that have received the prior
approval of the Board of Directors.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
39
<PAGE>
Common Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a
class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right, payable in cash or Common
Shares (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made
effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to
receive the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of.001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares then
known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such
time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, as amended from
time to time, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
40
