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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 6, 1998
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
California 0-12719 94-2656341
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) Number) Identification Number)
4650 NORRIS CANYON ROAD
SAN RAMON, CALIFORNIA 94583
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (510) 328-4650
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
This Report is filed pursuant to Item 5 of Form 8-K to report that
Giga-tronics Incorporated has adopted a shareholders rights plan and in
connection with such rights plan, entered into a Rights Agreement with
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent.
On October 14, 1998, the Board of Directors of Giga-tronics
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of
common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common Shares").
The dividend is payable on November 10, 1998 (the "Record Date") to the holders
of record of outstanding Common Shares as of the close of business on such date.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(C) EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
<S> <C>
4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6,
1998, by and between Giga-tronics
Incorporated and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent.
20.1 Form of Letter to Shareholders announcing
the adoption of a shareholder rights plan
and transmitting a summary of the rights.
20.2 Summary of the rights issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement.
99.1 Giga-tronics Press Release dated October 15,
1998 regarding the adoption of a shareholder
rights plan.
</TABLE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: November 6, 1998.
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
By: /s/George H. Bruns, Jr.
-------------------------------------
George H. Bruns, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBERED
EXHIBIT NO. DOCUMENT PAGE
- ----------- -------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Exhibit 4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1998, by and
between Giga-tronics Incorporated and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent.
Exhibit 20.1 Form of Letter to Shareholders announcing the adoption
of a shareholder rights plan and transmitting a summary of
the rights.
Exhibit 20.2 Summary of the rights issued pursuant to the Rights
Agreement.
Exhibit 99.1 Giga-tronics Press Release dated October 15, 1998
regarding the adoption of a shareholder rights plan.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 4.1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of November 6, 1998
by and between
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
November 6, 1998, by and between GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED, a California
corporation (the "Company"), and CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., a New
Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, 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 at the Close of
Business (as hereinafter defined) on November 10, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each
Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
(as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with
respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on
the date hereof.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed
to "Beneficially Own" any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act, in each case as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately, or only after the passage of time, compliance with
regulatory requirements, the fulfillment of a condition or otherwise)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights (other than these
Rights), 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 offer 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;
(iii) that such Person or any such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to vote, whether alone or in concert with
others, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
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or understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (A)
arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy
solicitation made pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (B) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report);
(iv) that 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 for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (other than
voting pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to
clause (iii) of this definition of "Beneficial Owner") or disposing of
any securities of the Company; and
(v) that, on any day on or after the Distribution Date,
evidence Rights that prior to such date were represented by
certificates for Common Shares that such Person Beneficially Owns on
such day.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section l(b), a Person engaged
in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities acquired through
such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of 40 days after the date of such acquisition.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of California are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., California
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day,
it shall mean 5:00 p.m., California time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
"Closing Price" of a stock or other security on any day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, per share of such stock or unit of such other
security on such day 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 such stock or other 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 such stock or other security is listed or admitted
to trading or, if such stock or other 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 on the Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ") or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date such stock or other security is not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as
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furnished by a professional market maker that makes a market in such stock or
other security and that is selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Common Share" shall mean one share of the Common Stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of the Company, unless used with reference to a Person other
than the Company, in which case it shall mean one share of each class of stock
of such Person having the right to vote generally in the election of directors
or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, one Common Share of the
Person that ultimately controls such Person.
"Common Share Equivalent" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Current Market Price" per share of a stock or unit of any other
security on any date shall mean the average of the daily Closing Prices of such
stock or other security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question; provided,
however, that if any event shall have caused the Closing Price on any Trading
Day during such 30-day period not to be fully comparable with the Closing Price
on the date in question (or, if no Closing Price is available on the date in
question, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question), then
each such non-comparable Closing Price so used shall be appropriately adjusted
by the Board of Directors in order to make the Closing Price on each Trading Day
during the period used for the determination of the Current Market Price fully
comparable with the Closing Price on such date in question (or, if applicable,
the immediately preceding Trading Day). "Current Market Price" per share of any
stock or unit of such other security that is not publicly held or so listed or
traded, and "Current Market Price" of any other property, shall mean the fair
value per share of such stock or unit of such other security, or the fair value
of such other property, respectively, as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company based upon such appraisals or valuation reports of
such independent experts as the Board of Directors shall in good faith determine
appropriate, which determination shall be described in a statement filed by the
Company with the Rights Agent.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3
hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the
Company and any Person holding Voting Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such employee benefit plan.
"Exercise Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7(c)
hereof.
"Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business on November 10,
2003.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
limited liability company association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5
promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof) or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
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"Preferred Share" shall mean one share of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company, which
shall have the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of
Determination for the Preferred Shares substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto.
"Preferred Share Equivalent" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(b) hereof.
"Record Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals
hereto.
"Redemption Date" shall mean the date of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights
pursuant to Section 23(a) hereof or the exchange of the Rights pursuant to
Section 24(a) hereof.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
23(a) hereof.
"Right Certificate", as that term is used with respect to any period
prior to the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
3(b) hereof, and, as that term is used with respect to any period on or after
the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(c)
hereof.
"Rights Expiration Date" shall mean the Expiration Date, except if
there has been a Distribution Date, then it shall mean the fifth anniversary of
the Distribution Date.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
"Section 13(a) Event" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
13(a) hereof.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other Person
of which equity securities or equity interests representing a majority of the
voting power are owned, directly or indirectly, or which is effectively
controlled, by such Person.
"15% Ownership Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement
(which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a
report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or a
15% Shareholder containing the facts by virtue of which a Person has become a
15% Shareholder.
"15% Shareholder" shall mean any Person that Beneficially Owns 15% or
more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however,
that the term "15% Shareholder" shall not include: (i) an Exempt Person; (ii)
any Person that would not otherwise be a 15% Shareholder but for a reduction in
the number of outstanding Voting Shares resulting from a stock repurchase
program or other similar plan of the Company or from a self tender offer of the
Company, which plan or tender offer commenced on or after the date hereof;
provided, however, that the term "15% Shareholder" shall include such Person
from and after the first date upon which (A) such Person, since the date of the
commencement of such plan or
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tender offer, shall have acquired Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a
number of Voting Shares of the Company equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares
of the Company then outstanding and (B) such Person, together with all
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall Beneficially Own 15% or more of
the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; or (iii) any Person that
would not otherwise be a 15% Shareholder but for its Beneficial Ownership of
Rights. In calculating the percentage of the outstanding Voting Shares that are
Beneficially Owned by a Person for purposes of this definition, Voting Shares
that are Beneficially Owned by such Person shall be deemed outstanding, and
Voting Shares that are not Beneficially Owned by such Person and that are
subject to issuance upon the exercise or conversion of outstanding conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options shall not be deemed
outstanding. Any determination made by the Board of Directors of the Company as
to whether any Person is or is not a 15% Shareholder shall be conclusive and
binding upon all holders of Rights.
"Trading Day" shall mean, as to any stock or other security, a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which such stock or other
security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
"Voting Share" shall mean (i) a Common Share of the Company and (ii)
any other share of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors or entitled to vote together with the Common Shares in
respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up. References in this
Agreement to a percentage or portion of the outstanding Voting Shares shall be
deemed a reference to the percentage or portion of the total votes entitled to
be cast by the holders of the outstanding Voting Shares.
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
SECTION 3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
(a) "Distribution Date" shall mean the date, after the date hereof,
that is the earliest of (i) the tenth Business Day (or such later day as shall
be designated by the Board of Directors of the Company) following the date of
the commencement of, or the first public announcement of the intent of any
Person, other than an Exempt Person, to commence a tender offer or exchange
offer, the consummation of which would cause any Person to become a 15%
Shareholder, (ii) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or (iii) the
date of the first Section 13(a) Event.
(b) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be represented by
certificates for Common Shares (all of which certificates for Common Shares
shall be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right
Certificates, (ii) the record holder of the Common Shares represented by each of
such certificates shall be the record holder of the Rights represented thereby
and (iii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer
of Common Shares. Until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption
Date or the Expiration Date,
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the surrender for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also
constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights represented thereby.
(c) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, and after
notification by the Company to the Rights Agent accompanied by a shareholder
list prepared by the transfer agent of the Common Shares, the Rights Agent shall
send, at the expense of the Company, by first-class, 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 substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto
representing one Right for each Common Share so held. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented solely by such Right
Certificates and may only be transferred by the transfer of such Right
Certificates, and the holders of such Right Certificates, as listed in the
records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for such Rights, shall
be the record holders of such Rights.
(d) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time after the Record
Date and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or
the Expiration Date, shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of November
6, 1998 by and between Giga-tronics Incorporated and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"),
as amended to date, the terms and conditions of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the
principal executive offices of Giga-tronics Incorporated Under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be
represented by separate certificates and will no longer be represented
by this certificate. Under certain circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by certain persons may
become null and void. Giga-tronics Incorporated will mail to the record
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without
charge promptly following receipt of a written request therefor. As
described in the Rights Agreement, Rights Beneficially Owned by any
Person who becomes a 15% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of a
15% Shareholder (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement) shall become null and void.
(e) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time on or after the
Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate does not represent any Right issued pursuant to the
terms of a Rights Agreement dated as of November 6, 1998 by and between
Giga-tronics Incorporated and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent.
(f) In the event that at any time on or after the earlier of the date
of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date,
the Company shall issue any Common Shares pursuant
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to the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
Rights), warrants or options that shall have been issued or granted prior to the
earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the
first Section 13(a) Event, then, unless the Board of Directors of the Company
shall have provided otherwise at the time of the issuance or grant of such
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or
options, the Rights Agent shall, as soon as practicable after the Rights Agent
receives notice thereof accompanied by a shareholders list, the Rights Agent
shall send by first-class, postage-prepaid mail to the record holder of such
Common Shares, at the address of such holder as shown on the records of the
Company, a Right Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto
representing one Right for each Common Share so issued.
(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, the
Rights Agent shall not send any Right Certificate to any Person identified by
the Company as being a 15% Shareholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 15%
Shareholder or to any Person if the Rights held by such Person are identified by
the Company as being Beneficially Owned by a 15% Shareholder or any of its
Affiliates or Associates. Any determination made by the Board of Directors of
the Company as to whether any Common Shares are or were Beneficially Owned at
any time by a 15% Shareholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 15% Shareholder
shall be conclusive and binding upon all holders of Rights.
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right Certificates and the
form of assignment, including certificate, and the form of election to purchase,
including certificate, printed on the reverse thereof, when, as and if issued,
shall be substantially in the form of 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 (which legends, summaries or endorsements
shall not affect the duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent hereunder),
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 upon which the Rights or the securities of the Company issuable upon
exercise of the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage.
Subject to Section 22 hereof, Right Certificates, whenever issued, that are
issued in respect of Common Shares that were issued and outstanding as of the
Close of Business on the Distribution Date, shall be dated as of the
Distribution Date.
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or President or any Vice President, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and may have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof attested by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, 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
so 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 may nevertheless be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force
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and effect as though the Person who signed such Right Certificates had not
ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any Person who at the actual date of such execution
shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, even
though such Person was not such an officer at the date of the execution of this
Agreement.
(b) Following the Distribution Date and receipt by the Rights Agent of
the notice and shareholders list referred to in Section 3(c) hereof, the Rights
Agent shall keep or cause to be kept at its offices designated pursuant to
Section 26 hereof books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates
issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the
respective holders of Right Certificates, the number of Rights represented on
its face by each Right Certificate and the date of each Right Certificate.
SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 6(c), 7(d) and 14 hereof, at
any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and so long as
the Rights represented thereby remain outstanding, any one or more Right
Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for one or more
Right Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Rights as the Right
Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange one or more Right Certificates shall make such request in
writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of
the Rights Agent with the form of assignment, including certificate, on the
reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed.
Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled
thereto one or more Right Certificates, 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 and the Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation under
this Section 6(a) unless and until it is satisfied that any such sum has been
paid.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a 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
such Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall issue and deliver to the
Rights Agent for delivery to the record holder of such Right Certificate a new
Right Certificate of like tenor in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Right Certificate.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, the
Rights Agent shall not countersign and deliver a Right Certificate to any Person
if such Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such
Person, Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section
7(d) hereof.
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SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, no Right may be exercised.
(b) Subject to Section 7(d) and (g) hereof and the other provisions of
this Agreement, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date
and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Rights Expiration Date, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights represented thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of
such Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase, including
certificate, on the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with
signature guaranteed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent at
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., 325 Montgomery Street, 23rd Floor, San
Francisco, California 94104, Attention: Mr. Asa Drew, together with payment of
the Exercise Price for each Right exercised. Upon the exercise of an exercisable
Right and payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement, the holder of such Right shall be entitled to receive, subject
to adjustment as provided herein, one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or,
following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event,
Common Shares and/or other securities).
(c) The "Exercise Price" for the exercise of each Right shall initially
be $12 and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in
accordance with Section 7(f) hereof. The Exercise Price and the number of
Preferred Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a
Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) to be acquired upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 7(e), 11 and 13 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the
date of the first Section 13(a) Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially
Owned by a 15% Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate of a 15% Shareholder at
any time on or after the Distribution Date shall be null and void, and for all
purposes of this Agreement such Rights shall thereafter be deemed not to be
outstanding, and any holder of such Rights (whether or not such holder is a 15%
Shareholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 15% Shareholder) shall thereafter
have no right to exercise such Rights.
(e) Prior to the Distribution Date, if the Board of Directors of the
Company shall have determined that such action adequately protects the interests
of the holders of Rights, the Company may, in its discretion, substitute for all
or any portion of the Preferred Shares that would otherwise be issuable (after
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date) upon the exercise of each Right
and payment of the Exercise Price (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the
Company, (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any
combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market
Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Preferred Shares for
which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that
the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 7(e), such action shall
apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.
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(f) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase, including certificate, completed
and duly executed, with signature guaranteed, accompanied by payment of the
Exercise Price for each Right to be exercised and an amount equal to any
applicable tax or governmental charge required to be paid by the holder of such
Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check or
cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section
13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or securities) certificates for the number of
Preferred Shares (or such other securities) to be purchased, and the Company
hereby irrevocably authorizes such transfer agent to comply with all such
requests, and/or, as provided in Section 14 hereof, requisition from the
depositary agent described therein depositary receipts representing such number
of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or such other securities) as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares (or such other
securities) represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with such depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs such 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
Preferred Shares (or such other securities) in accordance with Section 14
hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates, depositary receipts or cash,
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 thereof, deliver such cash
to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, the
exercisability of the Rights shall be suspended for such period as shall
reasonably be necessary for the Company to register and qualify under the
Securities Act and any applicable securities law of any jurisdiction the
Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Rights; provided,
however, that nothing contained in this Section 7 shall relieve the Company of
its obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.
(h) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all of the Rights represented thereby, a new Right
Certificate representing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the
provisions of Sections 6 and 14 hereof.
SECTION 8. CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation
and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right
Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the
exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates
to the Company or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such
canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of
destruction thereof to the Company.
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SECTION 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL STOCK.
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 9(f) hereof, the Company shall cause
to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued equity
securities (or out of its authorized and issued equity securities held in its
treasury), the number of such equity securities that will from time to time be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) In the event that any securities issuable upon exercise of the
Rights are listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its
best efforts, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, to
cause all such securities issued or reserved for such issuance to be listed on
such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) If necessary to permit the issuance of securities upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall use its best efforts, from and after the
Distribution Date, to register and qualify such securities under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and to keep such
registration effective until the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date.
(d) The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to
ensure that all securities delivered upon exercise of the Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of
the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable securities.
(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all taxes and
charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right
Certificates or of any securities upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax or charge that may be payable
in respect of any transfer or delivery of a Right Certificate to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a certificate for securities in respect of
a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate
representing Rights surrendered for exercise, or to issue or deliver any
certificate for securities upon the exercise of any Right 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 satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(f) With respect to the Common Shares and/or other securities issuable
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) and (iii) hereof, the foregoing covenants shall be
applicable only upon and following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
SECTION 10. SECURITIES RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for securities of the Company is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
securities represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of the Exercise Price (and any transfer taxes or charges) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the securities transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall
be deemed to have
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become the record holder of such securities on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the securities transfer books
of the Company are open.
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE UPON
EXERCISE OF RIGHTS OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS. The Exercise Price, the number and
kind of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a 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 that the Company shall at any time after
the Close of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of
Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date
(A) declare or pay any dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares or Voting Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding
Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a
smaller number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue Preferred Shares or
other securities of the Company (other than those for which an
adjustment is required under Section 11(b) hereof) 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) or in a
reorganization of the Company, then, and upon each such event, the
number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities issuable upon
the exercise of a Right on the date of such event shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised on
or after such date shall be entitled to receive, upon the exercise
thereof and payment of the Exercise Price, the aggregate number and
kind of Preferred Shares or other securities or other property, as the
case may be, that, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior
to such date and at a time when such Right was exercisable and the
transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned
upon such exercise and would have been entitled to receive by virtue of
such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an
event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section
11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in
this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior
to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event that a 15% Ownership Date shall have
occurred and neither the Redemption Date nor the Expiration Date shall
have occurred prior to the tenth Business Day following such 15%
Ownership Date (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), then, and upon each such
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, proper provision shall be made so that, except
as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then
current Exercise Price, such number of Common Shares of the Company as
shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current
Exercise Price by the then number of one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
Section 11(a)(ii) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have
occurred prior to the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number
of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right would have
been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business
Day immediately preceding the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event),
and (B) dividing that product by 50% of the Current Market Price of a
Common Share on the date of occurrence of the relevant
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Section 11(a)(ii) Event (such number of shares being hereinafter
referred to as the "Adjustment Shares"). Successive adjustments shall
be made pursuant to this paragraph each time a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
occurs.
(iii) In the event that on the date of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event the aggregate number of Common Shares that are authorized by the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time,
but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than
upon exercise of the Rights is less than the aggregate number of
Adjustment Shares thereafter issuable upon the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (the excess of such
number of Adjustment Shares over and above such number of Common Shares
being hereinafter referred to as the "Unavailable Adjustment Shares"),
then, and upon each such event, the Company shall substitute for the
pro rata portion of the Unavailable Adjustment Shares that would
otherwise be issuable thereafter upon the exercise of each Right and
payment of the Exercise Price (A) cash, (B) other equity securities of
the Company (including, without limitation, shares of preferred stock
of the Company or units of such shares having the same Current Market
Price as one Common Share (a "Common Share Equivalent")), (C) debt
securities of the Company, (D) other property or (E) any combination of
the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price
equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable
Adjustment Shares for which substitution is made. Subject to Section
7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company takes any action pursuant to
this Section 11(a)(iii), such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights.
(b) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
initially to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("Preferred
Share Equivalents")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
Preferred Share Equivalents, at a price per Preferred Share or Preferred Share
Equivalent (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible
into Preferred Shares or Preferred Share Equivalents) less than the Current
Market Price per Preferred Share on such record date, then, and upon each such
event, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of
the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number
of Preferred Shares that the aggregate offering price of the total number of
Preferred Shares and/or Preferred Share Equivalents to be so offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be so
offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of
which shall be equal to the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or Preferred
Share Equivalents to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities to be so offered are initially convertible); provided,
however, that if such rights, options or warrants are not exercisable
immediately upon issuance but become exercisable only upon the occurrence of a
specified event or the passage of a specified period of time, then the
adjustment to the Exercise Price shall be made and become effective only upon
the occurrence of
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<PAGE> 15
such event or such passage of time, and such adjustment shall be made as if the
record date for the issuance of such rights, options or warrants had been the
business day immediately preceding the date upon which such rights, options or
warrants became exercisable. 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 to the Exercise Price shall be made successively
whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or
warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the
Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(c) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, 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 surviving corporation) of assets (other than a distribution for
which an adjustment is required under Section 11(a)(i) or (b) hereof or a
regular quarterly cash dividend), then the Exercise Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be equal to the excess of the Current Market Price per Preferred Share on
such record date over and above the fair market value of the portion of the
securities or assets to be so distributed with respect to one Preferred Share,
and the denominator of which shall be equal to such Current Market Price per
Preferred Share. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such a distribution is not so made,
the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be
in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation under this Section 11, if the
Preferred Shares are not publicly held or traded, the "Current Market Price" per
Preferred Share shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Market Price per
Common Share multiplied by 100.
(e) No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the then
current Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that by reason
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be cumulated 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-thousandth of a
Common Share or other share or one-millionth of a Preferred Share, as the case
may be.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the holder of any Right shall, upon exercise thereof, be entitled to
receive any securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, and if an
event occurs in respect of such securities that, if it were to occur in respect
of Preferred Shares, would require an adjustment under this Section 11 in
respect of Preferred Shares, then the number of such other securities 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 Preferred Shares contained in this Section 11, and
the other provisions of this Agreement with respect to Preferred Shares shall
apply on like terms to any such other securities.
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<PAGE> 16
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall represent the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-hundredths 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) below, upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of
the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter represent
the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of
a Preferred Share) obtained by multiplying (i) the number of one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to
such adjustment of the Exercise Price by (ii) the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment, and dividing the product so obtained by
the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Exercise Price, to adjust the number of Rights instead of making any
adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares 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-hundredths 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 one-thousandth of a
Right) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
the adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately
after such adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i) and promptly deliver a copy of such announcement to the Rights
Agent, indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at the time,
the amount of the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on
which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if separate
Right Certificates have been issued, it shall be at least 10 days after the date
of such public announcement. If separate 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
representing, 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, 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 such adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company,
new Right Certificates representing all the Rights to which such holders shall
be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so distributed shall
be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may
bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or
the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of
one Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Exercise Price per one
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<PAGE> 17
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of one Right that were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Exercise Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action that may, in the advice or opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise
Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer, (and shall provide the Rights
Agent with notice of such election) until the occurrence of such event, the
issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the
number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of
the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate
instrument representing 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 further adjustments in the number of
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that may be purchased upon exercise of one
Right, and such further adjustments in the Exercise Price, in addition to those
adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the
Company in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any
(i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly
for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the Current Market Price thereof,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities that by their
terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends
on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof, hereafter made by the
Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such
Shareholders.
(n) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earliest
of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the date of the first Section
13(a) Event, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, (i) pay any dividend on
the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number
of Common Shares or (iv) issue Common Shares in a reclassification of the Common
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
then, and upon each such event, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such
event shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
equal to the number of Common Shares outstanding
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immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which shall be equal to
the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event. Successive
adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(n) each time such a
dividend is paid or such a subdivision, combination or reclassification is
effected. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this
Section 11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this
Section 11(n) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED EXERCISE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES
ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF RIGHTS. Whenever an adjustment is made as
provided in Section 11 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a
certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts and
computations giving rise to such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and
with each transfer agent for the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights
a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder
of Rights in accordance with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or to give such
notice shall not affect the validity or the force and effect of such adjustment.
Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Sections 11 or 13 hereof shall be
effective as of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights
Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any
adjustment therein contained, and shall not be obligated or responsible for
calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of such an
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
SECTION 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event (a "Section 13(a) Event") that, at any time on or
after the 15% Ownership Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or
the Expiration Date, (1) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate
with or merge with and into any other Person and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation in such consolidation or merger, (2) any
Person shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into
the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in
such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common
Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any
Person or cash or any other property, or (3) the Company and/or any one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise transfer,
in one or more transactions (other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business), assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
Person or Persons other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries (such Persons, together with the Persons described in clauses (1)
and (2) above shall be collectively referred to in this Section as the
"Surviving Person"), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made
so that:
(i) except as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of
a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of
the then current Exercise Price, in lieu of the securities or other
property otherwise purchasable upon such exercise, such number of
validly
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authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of
the Surviving Person (and if such Surviving Person has more than one
class or series of Common Shares, such number of validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of each series or
class) as shall be equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the
product of the then current Exercise Price multiplied by the number of
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of
one Right immediately prior to the first Section 13(a) Event (or, if
the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such
Section 13(a) Event, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
that would have been so purchasable if the Distribution Date had
occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such
Section 13(a) Event, or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to such Section 13(a) Event, the product of the number of
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to
the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share that would have been so purchasable if the
Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately
preceding the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event) immediately prior
to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, multiplied by the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and the
denominator of which is 50% of the Current Market Price per Common
Share of the Surviving Person on the date of consummation of such
Section 13(a) Event;
(ii) the Surviving Person shall thereafter be liable for and
shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to the Surviving Person; and
(iv) the Surviving Person shall take such steps (including,
but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with
such consummation as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions
hereof shall thereafter be applicable to its Common Shares thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of Rights.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Section 13(a) Event is the
sale or transfer in one or more transactions of assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), but less than 100% thereof, then each Person
acquiring all or a portion thereof shall assume the obligations of the Company
as to a fraction of each of the Rights equal to the fraction of the assets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) acquired by such Person, and
the obligations of the Company as to the remaining fraction of each of the
Rights shall continue to be the obligations of the Company.
(c) The Company shall not consummate a Section 13(a) Event unless prior
thereto the Company and the Surviving Person shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Surviving
Person shall, upon consummation of
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such Section 13(a) Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 13
hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the
issuance of Common Shares of such Surviving Person upon exercise of outstanding
Rights have been waived and that such Section 13(a) Event shall not result in a
default by such Surviving Person under this Agreement, and further providing
that, as soon as practicable after the date of consummation of such Section
13(a) Event, such Surviving Person shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective
as soon as practicable after such filing, use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at
all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the
Expiration Date, and similarly comply with all applicable state
securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of)
the Rights and the Common Shares of the Surviving Person purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange, or use
its best efforts to cause the Rights and such Common Shares to meet the
eligibility requirements for quotation on NASDAQ; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for such Surviving Person that comply in all respects with
the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form)
under the Exchange Act.
(d) In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised pursuant
to Section 11 hereof prior to the date of a Section 13(a) Event, such Rights
shall thereafter be exercisable only in the manner described in Section 13(a)
hereof. In the event that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs on or after the date
of a Section 13(a) Event, Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 11
hereof but shall instead be exercisable pursuant to, and only pursuant to, this
Section 13.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to each successive
merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer constituting a Section 13(a)
Event.
SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Right Certificates that represent fractional Rights. If the
Company shall determine not to issue such fractional Rights, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with respect to which
such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, at the time such fractional
Rights would otherwise have been issued as provided herein, an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Right on the
Business Day immediately prior to the date upon which such fractional Rights
would otherwise have been issuable.
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(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of
one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of Rights, or to
distribute certificates that represent fractional Common Shares or Preferred
Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of
a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
represented 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
Preferred Shares. If the Company shall determine not to issue fractional Common
Shares or Preferred Shares (or depositary receipts in lieu of Preferred Shares),
the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates with
respect to which such fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares would
otherwise be issuable, at the time such Rights are exercised as provided herein,
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a
whole Common Share or Preferred Share, as the case may be. For purposes of this
Section 14(b), the Current Market Price of a whole Common Share or Preferred
Share shall be the Closing Price per share for the Trading Day immediately prior
to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of such Right, expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
Common Shares or Preferred Shares upon exercise of such Right, except as
permitted by this Section 14.
SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section
18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates and certificates for Common Shares representing Rights, and any
registered holder of any Right Certificate or of such certificate for Common
Shares, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Right Certificate or any other certificate for Common Shares may, in such
holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the
Rights represented by such Right Certificate or by such certificate for Common
Shares in the manner provided in such Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations, of
the obligations of any Person under 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 every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented by
certificates for Common Shares registered in the name of the holders of such
Common Shares (which certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute Right
Certificates), and each such Right shall be transferable only in connection with
the transfer of such Common Shares;
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<PAGE> 22
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates shall only be
transferable on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the
office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument
of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights represented thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificate by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent
shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 17. RIGHT HOLDER AND RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A
SHAREHOLDER. No holder, as such, of any Right or Right Certificate
shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the
holder of the securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable upon
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 or Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a Shareholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter
submitted to Shareholders at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to
any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
Shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, in each case until such Right or the
Rights represented by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery,
amendment, 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, damage,
judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred
without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights
Agent, for any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including
without limitation the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability. The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification
shall also be paid by the Company. The indemnification provided for hereunder
shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this
Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be authorized
and protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for 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 document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the
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<PAGE> 23
proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of its counsel as set
forth in Section 20 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have notice
of any action or event (as to which the Rights Agent is entitled to notice
hereunder) unless such has been given to Rights Agent as provided herein.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no
event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential
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
loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.
SECTION 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. If, 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 if 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 such Right Certificate and in
this Agreement.
(b) If 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 if 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 such Right Certificate and in this Agreement.
SECTION 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations, and only the duties and obligations, expressly imposed
by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this
Agreement against the Rights Agent) upon the following terms and conditions, by
all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their
acceptance of the Rights, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may
consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the
advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.
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<PAGE> 24
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including without limitation the identity of any 15% Shareholder and the
determination of the Current Market Value) be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting 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, any Vice Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or President, any Vice President, the
Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no
liability in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by
it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement, or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof), or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability or responsibility
in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the
Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any 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 any Rights becoming null
and void pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the
Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections
7, 11, 13, 23 and 24 hereof, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that
would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise
of Rights represented 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 or Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to
this Agreement or any Right Certificate, or as to whether any Preferred Shares
or Common Shares or other securities 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, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or President, any Vice President,
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<PAGE> 25
the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties. The Rights Agent may conclusively
rely on the most recent instructions given by any such officer and such
instructions shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent for,
and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability in respect of, any action taken,
suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with such
instructions or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.
Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company
may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed
to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on
or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.
The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted
by the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall
not be less than ten Business Days after the date any officer of the Company
actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented
in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received
written instructions from the Company in response to such application to the
contrary.
(h) The Rights Agent and any Shareholder, affiliate, 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
the 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 Person
or 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, absent negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the
part of such attorneys or agents, provided that reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
its believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed
to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without
limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of
any Person as a 15% Shareholder, Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement
unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by
the Company of such fact, event or determination.
(l) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to
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purchase, as the case may be, has not been completed, the Rights Agent shall not
take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer
without first consulting with the Company.
SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30-days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and,
at the expense of the Company 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 and 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 as such, 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 such holder's Right
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Company shall become the
Rights Agent and the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States or of the States of New York or California (or of any other state of the
United States so long as such Person is authorized to do business in the States
of New York or California), in good standing, having an office in New York or
California, that is authorized under such laws to act in the capacity required
by the terms of this Agreement and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authority and that has at the time of its appointment as Rights
Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. After appointment,
the successor Rights Agent 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 of this Agreement and so that the successor Rights Agent may
appropriately act as Rights Agent hereunder. 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 and
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 Right Certificates to the contrary,
the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates in such form as may
be approved by the Board of Directors in order to reflect any adjustment or
change in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable upon exercise of the Rights in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement.
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SECTION 23. REDEMPTION OF RIGHTS.
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event or (iii) the Expiration
Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and
direct the redemption of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such redemption price shall
be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (the "Redemption Price"), and the
Company shall so redeem the Rights.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 23, or at such time and date thereafter as it may
specify, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of
Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Within ten Business Days after
the date of such action, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the
holders of Rights (and prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) by mailing
such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure to give any such notice
nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of such redemption.
Each such notice of redemption shall 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, directly or indirectly, redeem, acquire or purchase for value
any Rights in any manner other than that specifically set forth in Section 24
hereof or in this Section 23, or in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or
the date of the first Section 13(a) Event.
(c) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
Common Shares, Preferred Shares, other equity securities of the Company, debt
securities of the Company, other property or any combination of the foregoing,
in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price on the Redemption Date
equal to the Redemption Price.
SECTION 24. EXCHANGE OF RIGHTS.
(a) At any time during the period of 180 days after a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and
direct the exchange of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding
Rights for Common Shares, one one-hundredths of Preferred Shares, debt
securities of the Company, other property, or any combination of the foregoing,
in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the result
obtained by (i) multiplying the Current Market Price per Common Share on the
record date for such exchange by the number of Common Shares for which a Right
is exercisable on such record date and (ii) subtracting from such product the
Exercise Price on such Record Date (the "Exchange Ratio"), and the Company shall
so exchange the Rights.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company authorizing and directing the exchange of the Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24,
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or at such time and date thereafter as it may specify, and without any further
action and without any notice, the right to exercise Rights shall terminate and
the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive a number
of Common Shares in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. Within ten Business Days
after the date of such action, the Company shall give notice of such exchange to
the holders of Rights (and prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent) by mailing
such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure to give any such notice
nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of such exchange.
Each such notice of exchange shall state the method by which the Rights will be
exchanged for Common Shares.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the aggregate
number of Common Shares that are authorized by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended from time to time, but not outstanding or reserved for
issuance for purposes other than upon exercise or exchange of the Rights is less
than the aggregate number of Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of the
Rights in accordance with this Section 24 (the excess of such number of
authorized Common Shares over and above such number of issuable Common Shares
being hereinafter referred to as the "Unavailable Exchange Shares"), then the
Company shall substitute for the pro rata portion of the Unavailable Exchange
Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon the exchange of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 24 (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, Common Share Equivalents), (iii) debt
securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any combination of the
foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the
aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable Exchange Shares for which
substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the
Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 24, such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding Rights.
SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
(a) In the event that the Company shall propose (i) to declare or pay
any dividend on or make any distribution with respect to its Common Shares or
Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer
to the holders of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares options, rights or
warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares thereof or shares
of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to
effect any reclassification of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than
a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares), (iv)
to effect any consolidation or merger with or into, 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 more than 50% of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then and in each such case, the Company shall give to
the Rights Agent and each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action that shall specify the
record date for the purpose of such dividend or distribution, or the date upon
which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is to
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take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of record of the
Common Shares 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 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the
Common Shares or Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case
of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of
such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares or Preferred Shares, whichever date shall be the earlier. The
failure to give the notice required by this Section 25 or any defect therein
shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or
the vote upon any such action.
(b) Upon the occurrence of each Section 11(a)(ii) Event and each
Section 13(a) Event, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
the Rights Agent and each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, specifying the
event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11
and 13 hereof.
SECTION 26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Giga-tronics Incorporated
4650 Norris Canyon Road
San Ramon, California 94583
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made to or on the Rights Agent (i) by the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent, postage prepaid, by
registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of the Rights
Agent as set forth below (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) or (ii) by the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
principal office of the Rights Agent as set forth below (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company), and shall be deemed given upon actual
receipt. The Company hereby agrees that it shall encourage the holders of the
Right Certificates, in any and all writings to such holders regarding the Rights
or this Agreement, to give or make any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement by registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of
the Rights Agent as follows (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company):
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
325 Montgomery Street
23rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Attention: General Counsel
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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.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time,
without the approval of any holders of Rights, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement in any manner, whether or not such supplement or amendment is
adverse to any holder of Rights, and direct the Rights Agent so to supplement or
amend such provision, and the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such
provision; provided, however, that from and after the earliest of (i) the date
of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event, (iii) the Redemption Date or (iv) the Expiration Date, this Agreement
shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would materially and
adversely affect any holder of outstanding Rights other than a 15% Shareholder
or a Surviving Person.
(b) From and after the earlier of the date of the first Section
11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the
Rights Expiration Date, the Company shall not effect any amendment to the
Certificate of Determination for the Preferred Shares that would materially and
adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of the Preferred Shares
without the prior approval of the holders of two-thirds or more of the then
outstanding Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
no supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties of the Rights
Agent under this Agreement in any manner adverse to the Rights Agent will be
effective against the Rights Agent without the execution of such supplement or
amendment by the Rights Agent.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be entitled to request and receive a
certificate executed by either the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or President or any Vice President of the
Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company stating that the proposed supplement or
amendment complies with this Section 27 prior to its execution of such
supplement or amendment.
SECTION 28. CERTAIN COVENANTS. Subject to Section 27 hereof and the
other provisions of this Agreement, from and after the earlier of the date of
the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event
and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, the
Company shall not (a) issue or sell, or permit any Subsidiary to issue or sell,
to a 15% Shareholder or a Surviving Person, or any Affiliate or Associate of a
15% Shareholder or a Surviving Person, or any Person holding Voting Shares of
the Company that are Beneficially Owned by a 15% Shareholder or a Surviving
Person, (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible securities on terms
similar to, or that materially adversely affect the value of, the Rights or (ii)
Preferred Shares, Common Shares or shares of any other class of capital stock,
if such sale is intended to or would materially adversely affect the value of
the Rights, or (b) take any other action that is intended to or would materially
adversely affect the value of the Rights.
33
<PAGE> 31
SECTION 29. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
SECTION 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 (other than those representing
Rights that have become null and void) and the certificates for Common Shares
representing Rights (other than those Rights that have become null and void) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights
Agent and such registered holders of Right Certificates and certificates for
Common Shares representing Rights.
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 California and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made and
performed entirely within such state.
SECTION 33. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be
an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
SECTION 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. Descriptive headings of the several
sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
34
<PAGE> 32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
Attest:
By: /s/Mark H. Cosmez II By: /s/ George H. Bruns, Jr.
Name: Mark H. Cosmez II Name: George H. Bruns, Jr.
Title: Chief Financial Officer Title: Chief Executive Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent
Attest:
By: /s/ Diane Knutson By: /s/ Asa Drew
-------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Name: Diane Knutson Name: Asa Drew
Title: Assistant Vice President Title: Assistant Vice President
35
<PAGE> 33
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
We, George H. Bruns, Jr., Chairman of the Board, and Mark H. Cosmez II,
Secretary, of Giga-tronics Incorporated, a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Law of the State of California, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 401 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Articles of Incorporation of said Corporation, the said Board of Directors
on October 14, 1998 adopted the following resolution creating a series of Two
Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Articles
of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation be and it
hereby is created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting
powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special
rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof are as follows:
Section 1. That pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board by Article Fourth of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the
Board hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock (which term is used throughout
this resolution with the meaning given in said Article Fourth) with a par value
of $1.00 per share, of the Corporation, hereby designates said Series of
Preferred Stock as the "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Junior Preferred Stock") and hereby designates the number of shares to
constitute such series, fixes the terms, preferences, voting powers,
restrictions and qualifications thereof, and authorizes the issue thereof, all
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of this resolution.
Section 2. That the total number of shares to constitute the Junior
Preferred Stock is hereby designated as 250,000 shares, and the terms,
preferences, voting powers, restrictions and qualifications of the Junior
Preferred Stock are hereby fixed as follows:
2.1. Authorized Shares. The total authorized amount of the Junior
Preferred Stock shall be 250,000 shares, none of which is currently issued and
outstanding, with a par value of $1.00 per share. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that
no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Junior Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Junior Preferred Stock.
2.2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
Junior Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of
Junior Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of
<PAGE> 34
Common Stock of the Corporation (the "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 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 Junior Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $.25
per right or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 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
Junior 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 Junior
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b)
of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section 2.2
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 $.25 per share on the
Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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.
2.3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
2
<PAGE> 35
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after November 10,
1998 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 Junior Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Articles of
Incorporation, in any other resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation creating a series of Preferred Stock, or by law, the holders of
shares of Junior 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, holders of Junior Preferred
Stock shall have no voting rights.
2.4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2.2
are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Junior 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 Junior 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 liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Junior Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock
ranking on a parity with the Junior 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.
3
<PAGE> 36
(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 2.4 purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
2.5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Junior Preferred Stock purchased
or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock, subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of
Incorporation, in any other resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation creating a series of Preferred Stock, or as otherwise required by
law.
2.6. 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 Junior Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall have
received $1.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment,
provided that the holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 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 Junior Preferred Stock, except
distributions made ratably on the Junior Preferred Stock and all other such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. 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 Junior Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause
(1) 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.
2.7. 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
Junior 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 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash
and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or
for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on 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 Junior 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.
4
<PAGE> 37
2.8. Redemption. The shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable.
2.9. Rank. The Junior Preferred Stock shall rank junior with respect to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets to all series of the
Corporation's Preferred Stock that specifically provide that they shall rank
prior to the Junior Preferred Stock. Nothing herein shall preclude the Board
from creating any series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with or prior to
the Junior Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the distribution of
assets.
2.10. 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 Junior Preferred Stock so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding Junior Preferred Stock, voting together as a single series.
2.11. Fractional Shares. The Junior Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other rights of holders
of the Junior Preferred Stock.
5
<PAGE> 38
We further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State
of California that the matters set forth in this certificate are true and
correct of our own knowledge.
Dated: November 6, 1998
/s/ George H. Bruns, Jr.
--------------------------------------------
George H. Bruns, Jr., Chairman of the Board
/s/ Mark H. Cosmez II
--------------------------------------------
Mark H. Cosmez II, Secretary
6
<PAGE> 39
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF FACING SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. _____ __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE LATER OF NOVEMBER 10, 2003 OR THE
FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISTRIBUTION DATE (AS THAT TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT ON THE
TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A 15% SHAREHOLDER
OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A 15% SHAREHOLDER (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT AND AS THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
Right Certificate
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
This certifies that _______________________, or his, her or its
registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of rights (the
"Rights") set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to
the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of
November 6, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between Giga-tronics Incorporated, a
California corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., California time, on the
later of November 10, 2003 or the fifth anniversary of the Distribution Date at
the office or agency of the Rights Agent at ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., 325 Montgomery Street, 23rd Floor, San Francisco, California 94104,
Attention: Mr. Asa Drew, or at the office of its successors as Rights Agent, one
one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at an exercise price of $12 per Right (the "Exercise
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 Preferred Shares which may be purchased
upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share set
forth above, are the number and Exercise Price as of November 10, 1998, based on
the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number
of Preferred Shares 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
<PAGE> 40
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 office or agency of the Rights Agent at ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., 325 Montgomery Street, 23rd Floor, San Francisco, California
94104, Attention: Mr. Asa Drew, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate
or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the
holder to purchase a like aggregate number of 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 may, but are not required to, be redeemed by the
Company at a redemption price of $.001 per Right.
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-hundredth 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (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 November __, 1998.
ATTEST: GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
- ---------------------------- -----------------------------
8
<PAGE> 41
Secretary Chief Executive Officer
Countersigned:
By:
------------------------
Title:
---------------------
9
<PAGE> 42
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:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if applicable)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by a 15% Shareholder or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
____________________________________
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10
<PAGE> 43
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires
to exercise the Right Certificate)
TO: GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED
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 must conform in all respects to
name of holder as specified on the face of
this Right Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any
change whatsoever)
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
11
<PAGE> 44
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE -- CONTINUED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if applicable)
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by a 15% Shareholder or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
______________________________________
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
The signatures in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
correspond 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 Forms of
Assignment and Election is not completed, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be a 15% Shareholder
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and,
in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Right
Certificates issued in exchange for this Right Certificate.
12
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 20.1
================================================================================
[GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED LETTERHEAD]
NOVEMBER _ , 1998
Dear Giga-tronics Shareholder:
The Board of Directors of Giga-tronics has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan
intended to help assure that all Shareholders would receive fair treatment in
any takeover of the Company. A Summary of the Rights is enclosed and we urge you
to read it carefully. No action on your part is required at this time. You will
be notified if the Rights are ever triggered and become exercisable.
The Rights are designed to enable the Board to better act on behalf of
Shareholders in the event of an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company. The
Plan is designed to equip the Board with appropriate tools for conducting
negotiations with any prospective bidder, rather than to prevent or discourage
any attractive offer for the Company. The Company has not received any
unsolicited acquisition proposal at this time.
The Rights will expire (unless previously triggered) on November 10, 2003 and,
in certain circumstances, are subject to amendment or to redemption at $.001 per
Right by a majority of the directors of the Company. The adoption of the
Giga-tronics Rights Plan does not weaken the financial strength of the Company
or interfere with its business plans. The issuance alone of the Rights has no
dilutive effect and will not affect earnings per share or change the way in
which you can presently trade the Company's shares.
In declaring the Rights, we have expressed our confidence in the future and our
determination that you, our Shareholders, be given every opportunity to
participate fully in that future. You can be assured that we will continue to
take all appropriate measures to enhance Shareholder values and to protect your
interests in those values. On behalf of the Board of Directors,
-----------------------------------------
George H. Bruns, Jr.
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 20.2
================================================================================
SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE RIGHTS PLAN
On October 14, 1998, the Board of Directors of Giga-tronics
Incorporated (the "Company") authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred
stock purchase right (a "Right") for each share of common stock of the Company
(the "Common Shares"). The dividend is payable on November 10, 1998 (the "Record
Date") to the holders of record of Common Shares as of the close of business on
such date.
The following is a brief description of the Rights. It is intended to
provide a general description only and is subject to the detailed terms and
conditions of a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of November
6, 1998 by and between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent).
1. COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING RIGHTS.
Until the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 2 below), (a) the
Rights shall not be exercisable, (b) the Rights shall be attached to and trade
only together with the Common Shares and (c) the stock certificates representing
Common Shares shall also represent the Rights attached to such Common Shares.
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date and prior to the
Distribution Date shall contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference.
2. DISTRIBUTION DATE
The "Distribution Date" is the earliest of (a) the tenth business day
following the date of the first public announcement that any person (other than
the Company or certain related entities, and with certain additional exceptions)
has become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the then outstanding Common
Shares (such person is a "15% Shareholder" and the date of such public
announcement is the "15% Ownership Date"), (b) the tenth business day (or such
later day as shall be designated by the Board of Directors) following the date
of the commencement of, or the announcement of an intention to make, a tender
offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would cause any person to
become a 15% Shareholder or (c) the first date, on or after the 15% Ownership
Date, upon which the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or in which
the outstanding Common Shares are changed into or exchanged for stock or assets
of another person, or upon which 50% or more of the Company's consolidated
assets or earning power are sold (other than in transactions in the ordinary
course of business). In calculating the percentage of outstanding Common Shares
that are beneficially owned by any person, such person shall be deemed to
beneficially own any Common Shares issuable upon the exercise, exchange or
conversion of any options, warrants or other securities beneficially owned by
such person; provided, however, that
<PAGE> 2
such Common Shares issuable upon such exercise shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of calculating the percentage of Common Shares that are
beneficially owned by any other person.
Upon the close of business of the Distribution Date, the Rights shall
separate from the Common Shares, Right certificates shall be issued, and the
Rights shall become exercisable to purchase Preferred Shares as described in
Section 5 below.
3. ISSUANCE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates representing only Rights shall be mailed to the holders of record
of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such
separate Right certificates alone shall represent such Rights from and after the
Distribution Date.
4. EXPIRATION OF RIGHTS
The Rights shall expire on November 10, 2003, unless earlier redeemed
or exchanged, unless the Distribution Date has previously occurred and the
Rights have separated from the Common Shares, in which case the Rights will
remain outstanding for five years.
5. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS
Unless the Rights have expired or been redeemed or exchanged, they may
be exercised, at the option of the holders, pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) or
(c) below. No Right may be exercised more than once or pursuant to more than one
of such paragraphs. From and after the first event of the type described in
paragraphs (b) or (c) below, each Right that is beneficially owned by a 15%
Shareholder or that was attached to a Common Share that is subject to an option
beneficially owned by a 15% Shareholder shall be void.
(a) Right to Purchase Preferred Shares. From and after the
close of business on the Distribution Date, each Right (other than a
Right that has become void) shall be exercisable to purchase one
one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Preferred Shares"), at an exercise
price of $12 (twelve dollars) (the "Exercise Price"). Prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company may substitute for all or any portion of
the Preferred Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, cash, assets or other securities having the same aggregate
value as such Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares are nonredeemable
and, unless otherwise provided in connection with the creation of a
subsequent series of preferred stock, are subordinate to any other
series of the Company's preferred stock whether issued before or after
the issuance of the Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares may not be
issued except upon exercise of Rights. The holder of a Preferred Share
is entitled to receive when, as and if declared, the greater of (i)
cash and non-cash dividends in an amount equal to 100 times the
dividends declared on each Common Share or (ii) a preferential annual
dividend of $1.00 per Preferred Share ($.01 per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share). In the event of liquidation, the holders of
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<PAGE> 3
Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive a liquidation payment in
an amount equal to the greater of (1) $1.00 per Preferred Share ($.01
per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share), plus all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions on the Preferred Shares, or (2) an
amount equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per
Common Share. Each Preferred Share has 100 votes per share, voting
together with the Common Shares. In the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are
exchanged, the holder of a Preferred Share shall be entitled to receive
100 times the amount received per Common Share. The rights of the
Preferred Shares as to dividends, voting and liquidation preferences
are protected by antidilution provisions. It is anticipated that the
value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share should approximate the
value of one Common Share.
(b) Right to Purchase Common Shares of the Company. From and
after the close of business on the tenth business day following the 15%
Ownership Date, each Right (other than a Right that has become void)
shall be exercisable to purchase, at the Exercise Price (initially
$12), Common Shares with a market value equal to two times the Exercise
Price. If the Company does not have sufficient Common Shares available
for all Rights to be exercised, the Company shall substitute for all or
any portion of the Common Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, cash, assets or other securities having the
same aggregate value as such Common Shares.
(c) Right to Purchase Common Stock of a Successor Corporation.
If, on or after the 15% Ownership Date, (i) the Company is acquired in
a merger or other business combination in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation, (ii) the Company is the surviving corporation in
a merger or other business combination in which all or part of the
outstanding Common Shares are changed into or exchanged for stock or
assets of another person or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's
consolidated assets or earning power are sold (other than in
transactions in the ordinary course of business), then each Right
(other than a Right that has become void) shall thereafter be
exercisable to purchase, at the Exercise Price (initially $12), shares
of common stock of the surviving corporation or purchaser,
respectively, with an aggregate market value equal to two times the
Exercise Price.
6. ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVENT DILUTION
The Exercise Price, the number of outstanding Rights and the number of
Preferred Shares or Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in the Rights Agreement in
order to prevent dilution. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the
Exercise Price shall be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least 1%.
7. CASH PAID INSTEAD OF ISSUING FRACTIONAL SECURITIES
No fractional securities shall be issued upon exercise of a Right
(other than fractions of Preferred Shares that are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and that may, at the election of the Company,
be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an
39
<PAGE> 4
adjustment in cash shall be made based on the market price of such securities on
the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
8. REDEMPTION
At any time prior to the earlier of (a) the tenth business day (or such
later day as shall be designated by the Board of Directors) following the date
of the commencement of, or the announcement of an intention to make, a tender
offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would cause any person to
become a 15% Shareholder, (b) the tenth business day after the 15% Ownership
Date or (c) the first event of the type giving rise to exercise rights under
Section 5(c) above, the Board of Directors may, at its option, direct the
Company to redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.001 per
Right (the "Redemption Price"), and the Company shall so redeem the Rights.
Immediately upon such action by the Board of Directors (the date of such action
is the "Redemption Date"), the right of the holders of Rights thereafter shall
be to receive the Redemption Price.
9. EXCHANGE
At any time after the 15% Ownership Date and prior to the first date
thereafter upon which a 15% Shareholder shall be the beneficial owner of 50% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors may, at its
option, direct the Company to exchange all, but not less than all, of the then
outstanding Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio per Right equal to
that number of Common Shares which, as of the date of the Board of Directors'
action, has a current market price equal to the difference between the Exercise
Price and the current market price of the shares that would otherwise be
issuable upon exercise of a Right on such date (the "Exchange Ratio"), and the
Company shall so exchange the Rights. Immediately upon such action by the Board
of Directors, the right to exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights thereafter shall be to receive a number of Common Shares
equal to the Exchange Ratio.
10. NO SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PRIOR TO EXERCISE
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, shall have no
rights as a Shareholder of the Company (other than rights resulting from such
holder's ownership of Common Shares), including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
11. AMENDMENT OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, without the approval of
any holder of Rights, direct the Company and the Rights Agent to supplement or
amend any provision of the Rights Agreement in any manner, whether or not such
supplement or amendment is adverse to any holder of Rights, and the Company and
the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such provision; provided, however,
that from and after the earliest of (a) the tenth business day (or such later
day as shall be designated by the Board of Directors) following the date of the
commencement of, or the announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer, the consummation of which would cause any person to become a 15%
Shareholder, (b) the
40
<PAGE> 5
15% Ownership Date, (c) the first event of the type giving rise to exercise
rights under Section 5(c) above, or (d) the Redemption Date, the Rights
Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would
materially and adversely affect any holder of outstanding Rights other than a
15% Shareholder.
41
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.1
================================================================================
NEWS RELEASE Contact: Mark H. Cosmez II
Vice President, Finance/Chief Financial Officer
GIGA-TRONICS INCORPORATED ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
San Ramon, California, October 15, 1998--Giga-tronics Incorporated today
announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan
designed to assure that all Giga-tronics Shareholders would receive fair
treatment in any takeover of the Company. The Plan provides for the distribution
of one Right for each share of common stock outstanding on the record date of
November 10, 1998.
In making the announcement, George H. Bruns, Jr., the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Giga-tronics, stated: "The Rights are designed to
enable the Board of Directors to act effectively on behalf of Shareholders in
response to any takeover bid. The Plan is not intended to prevent or discourage
an offer for the Company that is commensurate with its value and is presented in
a manner permitting full review and negotiation." Mr. Bruns also noted that "the
Company has not received any unsolicited acquisition proposal at this time."
The Rights Plan provides that in the event any person becomes the
beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding common shares, each Right
(other than a Right held by the 15% Shareholder) will be exercisable, on and
after the close of business on the tenth business day following such event, to
purchase Giga-tronics common shares having a market value equal to two times the
then current exercise price (initially $12). The Plan further provides that if,
on or after the occurrence of such event, the Company is merged into any other
corporation or 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power are sold,
each Right (other than a Right held by the 15% Shareholder) will be exercisable
to purchase common shares of the acquiring corporation having a market value
equal to two times the then current exercise price.
The Rights expire on November 10, 2003 (unless previously triggered),
and are subject to redemption by the Board of Directors at $.001 per Right at
any time prior to the first date upon which they become exercisable to purchase
common shares.
Giga-tronics will provide Shareholders with further details of the
Rights Plan in a letter to be mailed in the next several weeks.
Giga-tronics designs, manufactures and markets an extensive line of
instruments and automatic test systems with broad application in wireless
communications, including cellular telephone, satellite transmission, aircraft
navigation, and electronic defense. It's recent acquisitions, Viking and
Ultracision, provide testing and handling equipment to the semiconductor
industry while Microsource manufactures a broad line of YIG tuned oscillators,
filters and microwave synthesizers.
Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Giga-tronics is a publicly held
company, traded over the counter on NASDAQ National Market Systems under the
symbol "GIGA".
