SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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): April 16, 1999
IMMUCOR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Georgia 0-14820 22-2408354
(State or Other (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
Incorporation)
3130 Gateway Drive, Norcross, Georgia 30091
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (770) 441-2051
--------------------------
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events.
On April 16, 1999 the Board of Directors of Immucor, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock").
The dividend is payable to holders of record at the close of business on April
20, 1999 (the "Record Date") of the Company's Common Stock, and with respect to
Common Stock issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (defined below) and,
in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Stock issued after the
Distribution Date. Except as set forth below, each Right, when it becomes
exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") at a purchase price of $45.00 per
share(the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. A description of and the
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"),
dated as of April 16, 1999.
The distribution of the Rights coincides with the expiration of similar
common stock purchase rights more fully described in that certain Shareholder
Rights Plan adopted by the Company on April 7, 1989, and which is an exhibit to
the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September
15, 1992.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
Common Stock then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. Also, the Rights initially will not be tradable separate from the
Common Stock. The Rights will become exercisable and will separate from the
Common Stock upon the earlier of (i) ten days after a Person or group of
affiliated Persons acquire ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common
Stock (unless such acquisition is approved by the Board of Directors); or (ii)
ten business days after a tender offer or an announcement of an intention to
make a tender offer that would result in a Person or group owning 20% or more of
the outstanding Common Stock. At such time, separate Rights Certificates shall
be distributed (the "Distribution Date"). A Person or group who acquires 20% or
more of the Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors is
referred to as an "Acquiring Person".
Until the Distribution Date (or until the Board of Directors redeems
the Rights or the Rights expire), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Share
certificates, (ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date
will contain a legend referencing the Rights Agreement, and (iii) the surrender
or transfer of any certificates for Common Stock will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on April 20, 2009, unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (except with the
approval of the Board of Directors, and except (in certain circumstances) for
persons who inadvertently become Acquiring Persons), each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, an amount of Common Stock
having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price. Further, after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, in the event (i) the Company consolidates, or
merges with the Acquiring Person, and the Company is not the surviving
corporation, (ii) an Acquiring Person engages in a share exchange, consolidation
or merger with the Company where the Company is the surviving corporation, or
(iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or
transferred in a single transaction or series of transactions, then each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common
stock of the Acquiring Person having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price. The events set forth in this paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering
Events." However, following the occurrence of any Triggering Event, all Rights
that are owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void, and the Acquiring
Person will have no right to purchase Common Stock thereunder or to receive any
securities or other property of an Acquiring Person; and any such Rights shall
remain null and void, even if transferred to a person who is not an Acquiring
Person.
<PAGE>
The number of Rights outstanding, the Purchase Price payable and the
amount of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustments from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of certain
changes in the shares of the Company, such as a stock split. The Company may
determine not to issue fractional shares, and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash (or other property) will be made based on the market value of the Common
Stock.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment), at any time prior to
the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business ten days following the date a
Person first becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights.
Immediately after the Board of Directors redeems the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
redemption price.
At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to
the acquisition by any Person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock,
the Board of Directors may exchange the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which will have become null and
void), in whole or in part, for Common Stock, each Right being exchangeable for
one Common Share.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
With the consent of the Rights Agent, any of the provisions of the
Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors prior to the
Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or
supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with other
provisions contained in the Rights Agreement, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time
periods under the Rights Agreement (except to make the Rights redeemable at a
time when they are not then redeemable), but generally only for the purpose of
protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the
holders of Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Associates and
Affiliates).
Certain decisions involving the administration of the Rights and the
Rights Agreement require both the existence of continuing directors and the
approval of at least a majority of such directors. Continuing directors are
members of the board of directors who were directors prior to a Triggering Event
or such time as a Person is deemed to be an Acquiring Person, and who continue
as directors after such time.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights, if
exercised, would cause substantial dilution to a Person or group that attempts
to acquire the Company without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of
Rights being acquired. Accordingly, the existence of the Rights may deter
certain acquirors from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the
Rights Agreement is designed to help ensure that the Company's shareholders
receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the
Company, and that the Board of Directors has sufficient time to evaluate any
proposed transaction and, if in the best interests of the Company, to explore
alternative value-enhancing transactions. The dividend of the Rights is not in
response to any specific takeover threat or proposal.
Until separate Rights Certificates are issued, a copy of the Rights
Agreement will be available to registered holders of the Common Stock upon
written request free of charge from the Company. After the Rights Certificates
are issued, a copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
1. Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 1999 between the Company
and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. as Rights Agent.
2. Letter to the Company's stockholders dated April 16, 1999 announcing
the declaration of the Rights.
3. Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock sent to the Company's
stockholders on April 16, 1999.
4. Press Release dated April 16, 1999.
<PAGE>
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.
IMMUCOR, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Edward L. Gallup
Edward L. Gallup, President
Dated: April 19, 1999
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number Description
1. Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 1999 between the Company
and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. as Rights Agent.
2. Letter to the Company's stockholders dated April 16, 1999 announcing
the declaration of the Rights.
3. Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock sent to the Company's
stockholders on April 16, 1999.
4. Press Release dated April 16, 1999.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 1
IMMUCOR, INC.
and
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Rights Agent
Shareholder Rights Agreement
Dated as of April 16, 1999
<PAGE>
Table of Contents
Section Page
1. Certain Definitions..................................................1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent..........................................5
3. Issue of Rights Certificates.........................................5
4. Form of Rights Certificates..........................................6
5. Countersignature and Registration....................................7
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.............7
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights........8
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..................9
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.......................10
10. Record Date for Securities Issued Upon Exercise.....................11
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights..............................................................11
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares..........18
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power...............................................................18
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.............................21
15. Rights of Action....................................................21
16. Agreement of Rights Holders.........................................22
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..................22
18. Concerning the Rights Agent.........................................22
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...........23
20. Duties of Rights Agent..............................................23
21. Change of Rights Agent..............................................25
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.................................25
23. Redemption and Termination..........................................26
24. Exchange............................................................27
25. Notice of Certain Events............................................28
26. Notices.............................................................29
27. Supplements and Amendments..........................................29
28. Successors..........................................................30
29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc...........30
30. Benefits of this Agreement..........................................30
31. Severability........................................................30
32. Governing Law.......................................................31
33. Counterparts........................................................31
34. Descriptive Headings................................................31
35. Establishment of Fund for Continuing Directors .....................31
Exhibit A.........- Form of Rights Certificate
<PAGE>
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 16, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), between IMMUCOR, INC., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association (the "Rights
Agent").
WITNESSETH
The Company previously adopted a shareholder rights plan on April 7,
1989 (the "1989 Rights Plan"). The 1989 Rights Plan provides that the Rights
created thereunder would expire upon the Close of Business, April 20, 1999.
Therefore, the Company adopts this Agreement as of the date hereof to take
effect upon the expiration of the 1989 Rights Plan.
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person or group of
Persons acting together, directly or indirectly, through any contract,
arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person(s), shall be the Beneficial
Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall
not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) any
employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company acting in
accordance with and for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Not
withstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" either (i) as a result of the acquisition of Common Stock by the Company
which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, increases
the proportional number of shares beneficially owned by such Person together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person; except that if
(A) a Person would become an Acquiring Person but for
the operation of this subclause (i)) as a result of the
acquisition of Common Stock by the Company, and
(B) after such share acquisition by the Company, such
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of such Person, becomes
the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock, then such
Person shall be deemed an Acquiring Person unless, upon
becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of
Common Stock, such Person of less than 20% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (ii) if within 8 days
after such Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring
Person (but for the operation of this subclause (ii)), such
Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did so
inadvertently and within 2 days after such notification, such
Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(d) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect
on the date of this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(e) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at
any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (B)
securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
"Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) hereof in connection
with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of
or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not
in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under
this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or
understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in
response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing),
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a
revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of
this paragraph (e)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Owner to the
contrary, a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities acquired by participation in good faith in a
firm commitment underwriting by a Person engaged in business as an underwriter
of securities until the expiration of forty days after the date of such
acquisition; (B) securities which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates may acquire, does or do acquire or may be deemed to have the right
to acquire, pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between the
Company and such Person (or one or more of his Affiliates or Associates) if such
agreement has been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors of the
Company prior to such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person; and (C) securities
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are
accepted for purchase or exchange; nor shall any officer, director or employee
of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company be deemed, solely by reason of
such Person's status or authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of any
securities that are "beneficially owned" including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person or
entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of such plan or by any other such officer, director or employee of the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of such plan.
(f) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(h) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.
Eastern time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M. Eastern time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(i) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $0.10 per
share par value, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" or "common stock"
when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management of such Person.
(j) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(k) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the
Board, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring
Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative
of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and was a member
of the Board prior to the earlier to occur of (x) a Triggering Event and (y) a
Person becoming an Acquiring Person, or (ii) any Person who subsequently becomes
a member of the Board, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if
such Person's nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or
approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.
(l) "Company" shall mean Immucor, Inc., a Georgia corporation,
until a successor corporation shall have become such or until a Principal Party
shall assume, and thereafter be liable for, all obligations and duties of the
Company hereunder, pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Plan, and
thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor corporation or Principal Party.
(m) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d) hereof.
(n) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(o) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(p) "Equivalent Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(b) hereof.
(q) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
1(d) hereof.
(r) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(s) "Fair Value Offer" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii)(A) hereof.
(t) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business
on April 20, 2009.
(u) "Original Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1(e)(i) hereof.
(v) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, unincorporated association, syndicate or other entity.
(w) "Plan" shall mean this Shareholder Rights Plan as
originally adopted or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended
pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.
(x) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(y) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(z) "Record Date" shall mean April 20, 1999.
(aa) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a).
(bb) "Right" shall mean the right to purchase one share of
Common Stock (subject to adjustment) as provided herein.
(cc) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
introductory language to this Agreement.
(dd) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(ee) "Rights Dividend Effective Date" shall mean April 20,
1999, the effective date of the dividend of one Right for each outstanding share
of Common Stock that the Board declared payable to holders of record of Common
Stock on the close of business on the Record Date.
(ff) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(gg) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)hereof.
(hh) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ii) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(jj) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an
Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such without the consent of
the Board.
(kk) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at
least a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(ll) "Substitute Consideration" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(mm) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(nn) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d) hereof.
(oo) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or any Section 13 Event.
2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights
Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in
accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be
the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable, upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The
Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall not event be liable for,
the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the
tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii), as
either of such periods may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 27
hereof, being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights
will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3)
by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders
of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to
be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights
certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the
Company may make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments so that
Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed
and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights
Certificates.
(b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock
outstanding as of the Rights Dividend Effective Date, until the Distribution
Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock and
the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the registered holders
of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common
Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common
Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's
treasury) after the Rights Dividend Effective Date but prior to the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
shall bear a legend substantially similar to the following:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in that certain Shareholder Rights
Agreement between Immucor, Inc. (the "Company") and EquiServe Trust
Company, N.A. (the "Rights Agent") dated as of April 16, 1999, as
amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain
circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will
be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced
by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of
mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written request
therefor.
Rights issued to or held by any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on
behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and
void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend,
until the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the
Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall
be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Rights Dividend Effective Date and on their face shall entitle
the holders thereof to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock as shall
be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per
share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable
upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance
of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case
any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates
shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the
Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed
such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company, and
any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person
who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a
proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the
date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an
officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e)
and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, or other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitle
such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any
registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights
Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged, with the form of assignment and
certificate duly executed, at the principal office or offices of the Rights
Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Company nor the Rights Agent
shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of
any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment set
forth on the reverse side of each such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Rights Agent
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may
be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company or the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to
the Company or the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights
Certificate if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein, including without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then
exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the Final Expiration Date, (ii)
the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof or
(iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24
hereof (the earlier of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock issued
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $45.00, and shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a)
hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per share of Common Stock (or, following a Triggering
Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(j) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)
(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock (or make
available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)
certificates for the total number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased and
the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all
such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder
with a depository agent, requisition from the depository agent depository
receipts representing such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Common Stock represented
by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depository
agent) and the Company will direct the depository agent to comply with such
request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash,
if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock in accordance
with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depository
receipts for shares of Common Stock, cause the same to be delivered to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in
such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such
amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made (x) in
cash or by certified check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order
of the Company or (y) if the Board so determines, by delivery of a certificate
or certificates (with appropriate stock powers executed in blank attached
thereto) evidencing a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the then
Purchase Price divided by the closing price (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding
the date of such exercise. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue
other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property
pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the
right to require, prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a
Section 13 Event, that upon exercise of any Rights, an appropriate number of
Rights be exercised so that any Common Stock issuable hereunder shall only be
issued as whole shares.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after such Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
such Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from such Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null
and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of
this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates
or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees of
an Acquiring Person hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, upon surrender to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) or
out of its authorized and issued Common Stock held in its treasury, the number
of shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement including Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights are listed on any national securities exchange
or automated quotation system, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed on such exchange or system upon official notice
of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Act
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the date of the
expiration of the Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this
Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition,
if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required
following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained.
(d) The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary
to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at
the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares and of such other
securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and that all shares shall be fully paid and
non-assessable.
(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all
federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of
the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for
shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) issued upon the
exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) in
respect of a name other than that of the registered holder of the Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver
any certificates for a number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as
the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the
exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being
payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or
until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is
due.
10. Record Date for Securities Issued Upon Exercise. Each Person in
whose name any certificate for a number of shares of Common Stock (or other
securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of
Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (or
other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company are closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a
shareholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities covered by each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common
Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number
of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the
Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or
the number and kind of other securities, as the case may be) issuable
on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of
any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon
payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and
kind of shares of Common Stock (or the number and kind of other
securities, as the case may be) which, if a Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such time and at a time when the Common Stock
transfer books of the Company were open, the holder would have owned
upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event
occurs which 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:
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, at any time after
the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly,
(1) shall merge into the Company or otherwise combine
with the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or
combination and the Common Stock of the Company shall
remain outstanding and unchanged, (2) shall, in one
transaction or a series of transactions, transfer any
assets to the Company or to any of its Subsidiaries
in exchange (in whole or in part) for shares of
Common Stock, for shares of other equity securities
of the Company, or for securities exercisable for or
convertible into shares of equity securities of the
Company (Common Stock or otherwise) or otherwise
obtain from the Company, with or without
consideration, any additional shares of such equity
securities or securities exercisable for or
convertible into shares of such equity securities
(other than pursuant to a pro rata distribution to
all holders of Common Stock), (3) shall sell,
purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer
or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one
transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or
with (as the case may be) the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, assets on terms and conditions less
favorable to the Company than the Company would be
able to obtain in arm's length negotiation with an
unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, (4)
shall sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of
in one transaction or a series of transactions, to,
from or with (as the case may be) the Company or any
of the Company's Subsidiaries (other than incidental
to the lines of business, if any, engaged in as of
the date hereof between the Company and such
Acquiring Person or Associate or Affiliate) assets
having an aggregate fair market value of more than
$3,000,000, other than pursuant to a transaction set
forth in Section 13(a) hereof, (5) shall receive any
compensation from the Company or any of the Company's
Subsidiaries other than compensation for full-time
employment as a regular employee at rates in
accordance with the Company's (or its Subsidiaries')
past practices, or (6) shall receive the benefit,
directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
shareholder and except if resulting from a
requirement of law or governmental regulation), of
any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other
financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax
advantage provided by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or
(B) any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan
of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), alone or together with its
Affiliates and Associates, at any time after the
Rights Dividend Effective Date, without the consent
of a majority of the Continuing Directors, shall
become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, other than
pursuant to any transaction set forth in Section
13(a) hereof, or pursuant to a tender offer or an
exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common
Stock at a price and on terms determined by the Board
of Directors (including, following the earlier of (x)
a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a Person
Becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of
the Continuing Directors) to be (a) at a price which
is fair to shareholders (taking into account all
factors which such members of the Board deem relevant
including, without limitation, prices which could
reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets
were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize
maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, or
(C) during such time as there is an
Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification
of securities (including any reverse stock split), or
recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its
Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series of
transactions involving the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than a transaction or
transactions to which the provisions of Section 13(a)
apply (whether or not with or into or otherwise
involving an Acquiring Person) which has the effect,
directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1%
the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of
any class of equity securities of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries which is directly or indirectly
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person,
then, promptly following five (5) days after the date of the occurrence
of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof and promptly
following the occurrence of any event described in Section 11(a)(ii)(A)
or (C) hereof, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a
Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise of a Right at the
then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, in lieu of a number of shares of Common Stock, such number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result
obtained by (x) multiplying (1) the then current Purchase Price by (2)
the then number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such
first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase
Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of
the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the date of such
first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares"),
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
which are authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation but not
outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon
exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full
of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of
this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1)
the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess,
being referred to as the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right,
make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in
the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares of
preferred stock which the Board has deemed to have the same value as
shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock being referred
to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company,
(5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing (whichever
substituted, the "Substitute Consideration"), having an aggregate value
equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been
determined by the Board (including, following the earlier of (x) a
Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, at least a majority of the Continuing Directors)
based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking
firm selected by the Board; provided, however, if the Company shall not
have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B)
above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23 expires (the later
of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date"), then subject to subsection (k) hereof the Company shall
be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and
without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock
(to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board
(including, following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y) the
date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring person, at least a majority
of the Continuing Directors) shall determine in good faith that it is
likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be
authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty
(30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period,
as it may be extended, being referred to herein as the "Substitution
Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action
need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section
7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding
Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the
expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to
determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as
a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the
Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common
Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any Common
Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common
Stock on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling
them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45)
calendar days after such record date) Common Stock (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Common Stock ("Equivalent
Common Stock")) or securities convertible into Common Stock or Equivalent Common
Stock at a price per share of Common Stock or per share of Equivalent Common
Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Common Stock or Equivalent Common Stock) less than the Current Market Price per
share of Common Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect
after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering
price of the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or Equivalent Common
Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the
convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market
price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of
Common Stock and/or Equivalent Common Stock to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery
of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board,
whose determination shall be conclusive for all purposes. Shares of Common Stock
owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other
than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings
of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Common Stock, but
including any dividend payable in stock other than Common Stock) or subscription
rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price per
share of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be conclusive
for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to a share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be such
Current Market Price per share of Common Stock. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market
Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market
Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however,
that in the event that the current market price per share of the Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (ii) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the
requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth
above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
Record Date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in
each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into
account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of
Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or
such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common
Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date
as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which
the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the
Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, Current Market
Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be conclusive for all purposes. The
Current Market Price of any fraction of a share of Common Stock hereunder shall
be determined by multiplying the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock,
determined in accordance with this paragraph, by such fraction.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share,
as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e),
any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the
earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates
such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
shares of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of shares covered by a Right immediately prior to
this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of a Right. In that event, each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment
in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment;
and each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of that number of Rights
shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one-ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall
make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which
the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. All costs associated with such
adjustments, including without limitation any taxes required to be paid on
account of such adjustment, shall be borne by the Company. Rights 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
Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of
Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price per share of Common Stock and the shares of Common Stock which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and non-assessable
shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company,
if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the shares of Common Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board shall
determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of
the Common Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Common Stock at
less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of
Common Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of
rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by
the Company to holders of its Common Stock shall not be taxable to such
shareholders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution
Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been
approved by the Board of Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a
Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
at least a majority of the Continuing Directors)), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of
Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y)
the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of
the Continuing Directors)), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary
to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been
approved by the Board of Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a
Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
at least a majority of the Continuing Directors)), if (x) at the time of or
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights,
warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect
which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended
to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except
as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Effective Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a
dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date or in
accordance with Section 22 hereof, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following
any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of
Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such
event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and
the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date,
to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in
accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it
shall have received such certificate.
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, during such time as there is an
Acquiring Person, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate
with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been
approved by the Board of Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a
Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
at least a majority of the Continuing Directors)), and the Company shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of Directors
(including, following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y) the date on
which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of the
Continuing Directors)) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or
merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or
any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one
or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of
Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y)
the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of
the Continuing Directors))(each of the events described in (x), (y), and (z)
above being hereinafter referred to as a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each
such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right,
except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party, not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of
first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of shares of
Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of
shares of Common Stock (or, if applicable, preferred stock) for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of
a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right
and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current Market Price
per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party,
it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall
apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section
13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence
of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or
reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance
with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing for the terms set forth in Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any consolidation, merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this
Section 13, the Principal Party:
(i) will prepare and file a registration statement under the
Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date;
(ii) will use its best efforts to qualify or register the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under
the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or
appropriate; and
(iii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on
Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13 Event
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction has been
approved by the Board; provided, however, if the Board approves such
transaction, then there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such
authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing
Directors or (ii)(A) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer
for all outstanding shares of Common Stock described in the clause of Section
11(a)(ii)(B) hereof that begins, "other than ..." (or a wholly owned subsidiary
of any such Person or Persons), (B) the price per share of Common Stock offered
in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to
all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to
such tender offer or exchange offer, and (C) the form of consideration being
offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction
contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall be applicable to a
transaction described in subparagraphs (x), (y), and (z) of Section 13(a)
regardless of the business form of the Principal Party (e.g., corporation,
partnership, or other form). In the event that the Principal Party is an entity
other than a corporation, the term "Common Stock," as used in reference to the
Principal Party in this Section 13 or otherwise, shall be construed to refer to
the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct
the management of, or representing the fundamental economic interest in, such
Principal Party.
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to
trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not
quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
as furnished by a professional market maker selected by the Board making a
market in the Rights. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, then the fair value of the Rights on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock (or other securities) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock (or
other securities). In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock (or other
securities), the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a share of
Common Stock (or other securities). For purposes of this Section 14(b), the
current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per
share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise, and the current
market value of any other securities shall be determined utilizing the
principles of Section 11(d) hereof as applied by the Board in its sole
discretion.
(c) The holders of Rights by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waive any right to receive any fractional Rights and/or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right.
15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in 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 evidenced by such Rights
Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations
hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the
Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as
such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock or
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder 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 Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
This Section 17 shall also apply to holders, as such, of Rights prior to the
issuance of Rights Certificates.
18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any losses, expenses, claims, damages or liabilities,
incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part
of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in
connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement and
performance hereunder, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or
indirectly, and will promptly reimburse the Rights Agent for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in investigating or defending any such loss,
expense, claim, damage or liability.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected by the indemnity
provided by this Section 18 and shall incur no liability for or in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or
certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument
of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary,
verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed
to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may
adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may
be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity or legality of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or legality or execution of any Rights Certificate
(except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement
or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment
required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible
for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of
the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with
respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual
notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to
make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of
any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will, when so issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(e) 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.
(f) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties, and it shall not be liable to the Company or the holder of any Rights
Certificate or any shareholder of the Company for any action taken or suffered
to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
officer.
(g) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(h) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(i) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be, in the sole judgment of the Rights Agent, reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either
not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed
by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation or trust company
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State
of Georgia or of the State of New York (or of any other state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in either the State of Georgia or the State of New York), in good
standing, having a principal office in either the State of Georgia or the State
of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with
the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been
originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of
shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee benefit plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b)
may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue
Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be
advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustments shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the
earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day (as such period may be
extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 27 hereof) following the Stock
Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less
than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right,
as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption
price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"), such Redemption
Price to be payable in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "Current
Market Price," as defined in Section 11(d) hereof, of the Common Stock at the
time of redemption) or such other form of consideration as may be deemed
appropriate by the Board; provided, however, if the Board authorizes redemption
of the Rights in either of the circumstances set forth in clauses (i) and (ii)
below, then there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such
authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing
Directors: (i) such authorization occurs on or after the time a Person becomes
an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such authorization occurs on or after the date of a
change (resulting from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the
directors in office at the commencement of such solicitation if any Person who
is a participant in such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement
of such solicitation, a majority of the Board has determined in good faith) that
such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to take, or may
consider taking, any action which would result in such Person becoming an
Acquiring Person or which would cause the occurrence of a Triggering Event
unless, concurrent with such solicitation, such Person (or one or more of its
Affiliates or Associates) is making a tender offer or exchange offer in
compliance with Section 11(a)(ii)(B); provided further, however, that if
following the occurrence of a Stock Acquisition Date and following the
expiration of the right of redemption hereunder but prior to any Triggering
Event, (i) a Person who is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or
otherwise disposed of a number of shares of Common Stock in one transaction or
series of transactions, not directly or indirectly involving the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, which did not result in the occurrence of a Triggering
Event such that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 5% or less of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, and (ii) there are no other Persons,
immediately following the occurrence of the event described in clause (i), who
are Acquiring Persons, then the right of redemption shall be reinstated and
thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such
time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder and under subsection (b) of
this Section 23 has expired.
(b) During the period commencing at the Close of Business on
the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date and terminating on the
earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Triggering Event and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, the Board may, at its option, redeem all but not less than all
of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price (appropriately adjusted
to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof), provided that such redemption is incidental to a merger,
consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or a
reorganization or restructuring of the Company which a majority of the
Continuing Directors shall determine to be in the best interests of the Company
and its shareholders.
(c) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the
redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the
Rights Agent and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held.
Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of
the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent
and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all
such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
24. Exchange.
(a) The Board may, at its option and with the approval of at
least a majority of the Continuing Directors, at any time after the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at
an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall
not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding shares of Common Stock
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such
Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall
promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of
such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to
all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of
any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of
Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event
the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as
may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock, the
Company shall substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable
upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of Preferred Stock or fraction
thereof such that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share
multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per share market
price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of such shares of Preferred
Stock or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with
regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be
issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this paragraph (d), the
current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a
Common Share (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of
Directors (including, following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y)
the date on which a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of
the Continuing Directors)), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in
one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof and has been approved by the Board of Directors (including,
following the earlier of (x) a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which a
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, at least a majority of the Continuing
Directors)), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date
for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or
the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the
record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes
of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20)
days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, whichever
shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Triggering Event shall occur, then, (i) the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights
Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the
consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) or
Section 13 hereof as applicable, and (ii) all references in the preceding
paragraph to Common Stock shall, to the extent appropriate, also be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
26. Notices.
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
Immucor, Inc.
3130 Gateway Drive
Norcross, Georgia 30091
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
c/o EquiServe Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Attention: Client Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
27. Supplements and Amendment.
With the consent of the Rights Agent, this Agreement may be
supplemented or amended at the times and for the purposes set forth below;
provided, however, that no proposed supplement or amendment to this Agreement
shall be effective unless (i) there are Continuing Directors and (ii) a majority
of such Continuing Directors, at a meeting of Directors duly called and held,
votes in favor of the adoption of such proposed supplement or amendment. Prior
to the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company
so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock.
From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval
of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii)
to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective
or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen
any time period hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended
to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) subject to Section
31, a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights
of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of the common equity of the Company,
including the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate that is
signed by a Continuing Director and which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock.
28. Successors.
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for
the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the
benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, Etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including
for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares
of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in
accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board (with, where specifically
provided for herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board (with, where specifically
provided for herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) or to the
Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret
the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All
such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which
are done or made by the Board (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final,
conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the
Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board or the Continuing
Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
30. Benefits of this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any
Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders
of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
31. Severability.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided,
however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any
such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith
judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely
affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set
forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the
Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by
the Board of Directors.
32. Governing Law.
This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of
Georgia and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be performed
entirely within such State.
33. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
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.
35. Establishment of Fund for Continuing Directors.
The Board may, at any time it deems appropriate, establish or set aside
one or more funds, whether in trust, escrow or otherwise (and regardless of
whether such fund is combined with any other fund established or set aside by
the Company), for the purpose of assuring that adequate resources are available
to any Continuing Director in order to enable such Continuing Director to carry
out his or her prescribed functions under this Agreement and to fulfill his or
her fiduciary obligations to shareholders of the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the date and year first above written.
IMMUCOR, INC.
By: /s/ Edward L. Gallup
Name: Edward L. Gallup
Title: President
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By: /s/ Darlene M. DioDato
Name: Darlene M. DioDato
Title: Managing Director
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R- _____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 20, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE
COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT
$.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH
RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]1
Rights Certificate
IMMUCOR, INC.
This certifies that ____________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of April 16, 1999, as amended from time to time (the "Rights
Agreement"), between IMMUCOR, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and
EQUISERVE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on April 20, 2009 (unless
earlier redeemed by the Company as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the
office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one fully paid, non-assessable share of Common Stock
(the "Common Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $45.00 per share
(the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. The Purchase Price shall be paid in cash. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be
purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per
share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of April 20, 1999,
based on the Common Stock as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as the Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall
have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the Close of
Business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time
period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date. After the Expiration of the redemption period, the Company's
right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces his
beneficial ownership to 5% or less of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in
a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company. In addition,
the Company may redeem the Right's after the above ten day period and prior to a
Triggering Event, incidental to a merger or other business combination involving
the Company or reorganization or restructuring of the Company which the majority
of "Continuing Directors" (as defined in the Rights Agreement) concurs is in the
best interest of shareholders.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise
of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will
be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a 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 Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or effective for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officer of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _______________ .
ATTEST: IMMUCOR, INC.
____________________________ By: _______________________
Secretary Title
Countersigned:
RIGHTS AGENT
By: Authorized Signature
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ___________________ .
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ]is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ] did [
] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person.
Dated: .
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the
name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular,
without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: IMMUCOR, INC.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights represented by this
Rights Certificate to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of
any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and
requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of and
delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
(Please print name and address)
Dated: .
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not being
exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [ ]did [
] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated: .
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
- --------
1 The portion of the legend in brackets shall be included only if applicable and
shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 2
Dear Shareholder:
Your Board of Directors has voted to adopt a new shareholder' rights plan (the
"Plan") pursuant to which the Company will distribute one new Common stock
purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Immucor, Inc. Common Stock
outstanding as of the close of business on April 20, 1999. Under the Plan, each
shareholder of record as of that date will receive one Right for each share of
Common Stock held. Initially, the Right will not be exercisable and will
automatically trade with the Common Stock. Accordingly, separate Rights
certificates will not be sent to you at this time.
The Plan and Rights are described in more detail in the attached Summary of
Rights to Purchase Shares of Immucor, Inc. Common Stock.
Your Board of Directors is taking these actions to enhance shareholder value.
The Plan requires that any potential acquirer seeking to obtain control of
Immucor treat all Immucor shareholders fairly and equally and is expected to
deter the use of any coercive tactics
The Board has been considering adopting the plan for several weeks. The Board is
not aware of any actual effort to acquire control of Immucor. The timing of the
effectiveness of this new rights plan coincides with the expiration of Immucor's
existing rights plan. We believe that the current market price of Immucor, Inc.
Common stock and the Company's prospects make the adoption of the plan prudent
at this time.
The Plan and the Rights will not in any way affect the financial strength of
Immucor or interfere with its ongoing business plans. Issuance of the Right has
no dilutive effect, will not effect reported earnings per share, is not
presently taxable to you and will not change the way in which you currently
trade in Immucor Common Stock.
If you have any questions please call me at (770) 441-2051.
Sincerely
Edward L. Gallup
Chairman
cv
<PAGE>
Exhibit 3
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
On April 16, 1999 the Board of Directors of Immucor, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock of the Company (the "Common Stock").
The dividend is payable to holders of record at the close of business on April
20, 1999 (the "Record Date") of the Company's Common Stock, and with respect to
Common Stock issued thereafter until the Distribution Date (defined below) and,
in certain circumstances, with respect to Common Stock issued after the
Distribution Date. Except as set forth below, each Right, when it becomes
exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock") at a purchase price of $45.00 per
share(the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. A description of and the
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. (the "Rights Agent"),
dated as of April 16, 1999.
The distribution of the Rights coincides with the expiration of similar
common stock purchase rights more fully described in that certain Shareholder
Rights Plan adopted by the Company on April 7, 1989, and which is an exhibit to
the Company's 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September
15, 1992.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing
Common Stock then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. Also, the Rights initially will not be tradable separate from the
Common Stock. The Rights will become exercisable and will separate from the
Common Stock upon the earlier of (i) ten days after a Person or group of
affiliated Persons acquire ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Common
Stock (unless such acquisition is approved by the Board of Directors); or (ii)
ten business days after a tender offer or an announcement of an intention to
make a tender offer that would result in a Person or group owning 20% or more of
the outstanding Common Stock. At such time, separate Rights Certificates shall
be distributed (the "Distribution Date"). A Person or group who acquires 20% or
more of the Common Stock without the approval of the Board of Directors is
referred to as an "Acquiring Person".
Until the Distribution Date (or until the Board of Directors redeems
the Rights or the Rights expire), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Share
certificates, (ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date
will contain a legend referencing the Rights Agreement, and (iii) the surrender
or transfer of any certificates for Common Stock will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on April 20, 2009, unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date, and thereafter the separate Right
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (except with the
approval of the Board of Directors, and except (in certain circumstances) for
persons who inadvertently become Acquiring Persons), each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, an amount of Common Stock
having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price. Further, after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, in the event (i) the Company consolidates, or
merges with the Acquiring Person, and the Company is not the surviving
corporation, (ii) an Acquiring Person engages in a share exchange, consolidation
or merger with the Company where the Company is the surviving corporation, or
(iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or
transferred in a single transaction or series of transactions, then each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common
stock of the Acquiring Person having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price. The events set forth in this paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering
Events." However, following the occurrence of any Triggering Event, all Rights
that are owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void, and the Acquiring
Person will have no right to purchase Common Stock thereunder or to receive any
securities or other property of an Acquiring Person; and any such Rights shall
remain null and void, even if transferred to a person who is not an Acquiring
Person.
<PAGE>
The number of Rights outstanding, the Purchase Price payable and the
amount of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustments from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of certain
changes in the shares of the Company, such as a stock split. The Company may
determine not to issue fractional shares, and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash (or other property) will be made based on the market value of the Common
Stock.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment), at any time the
earlier to occur of (i) the close of business ten days following the date a
Person first becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) the expiration of the Rights.
Immediately after the Board of Directors redeems the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
redemption price.
At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to
the acquisition by any Person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock,
the Board of Directors may exchange the then outstanding and exercisable Rights
(other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which will have become null and
void), in whole or in part, for Common Stock, each Right being exchangeable for
one Common Share.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
With the consent of the Rights Agent, any of the provisions of the
Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors prior to the
Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or
supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with other
provisions contained in the Rights Agreement, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time
periods under the Rights Agreement (except to make the Rights redeemable at a
time when they are not then redeemable), but generally only for the purpose of
protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the
holders of Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Associates and
Affiliates).
Certain decisions involving the administration of the Rights and the
Rights Agreement require both the existence continuing directors and the
approval of at least a majority of such directors. Continuing directors are
members of the board of directors who were directors prior to a Triggering Event
or such time as a Person is deemed to be an Acquiring Person, and who continue
as directors after such time.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights, if
exercised, would cause substantial dilution to a Person or group that attempts
to acquire the Company without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of
Rights being acquired. Accordingly, the existence of the Rights may deter
certain acquirors from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the
Rights Agreement is designed to help ensure that the Company's shareholders
receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the
Company, and that the Board of Directors has sufficient time to evaluate any
proposed transaction and, if in the best interests of the Company, to explore
alternative value-enhancing transactions. The dividend of the Rights is not in
response to any specific takeover threat or proposal.
Until separate Rights Certificates are issued, a copy of the Rights
Agreement will be available to registered holders of the Common Stock upon
written request free of charge from the Company. After the Rights Certificates
are issued, a copy of the Rights Agreement will be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Edward L. Gallup
770-441-2051
Immucor, Inc. Adopts Stockholder Rights Plan
NORCROSS, GA - April 16, 1999 - Immucor, Inc. (NASDAQ/NM: BLUD], a leading
provider of blood bank reagents and related products today announced that its
Board of Directors adopted a Rights Agreement under which all stockholders of
record as of the close of business on April 20, 1999 will receive rights to
purchase additional shares of Immucor's Common Stock. The timing of the
effectiveness of this new rights plan coincides with the expiration of Immucor's
existing Rights Plan.
The new Rights Plan, which is similar to plans adopted by many other U.S.
companies, is designed to enable Immucor stockholders to realize the full value
of their investment and to provide for fair and equal treatment for all
stockholders in the event that an unsolicited attempt is made to acquire
Immucor. The adoption of the Rights Plan is intended as a means to guard against
abusive takeover tactics and is not in response to any particular proposal.
The Rights will be distributed as a non-taxable dividend and will expire in ten
years. The Rights will be exercisable only if a person acquires or makes an
offer to acquire 20 percent or more of the Company's common stock without the
approval of the Company's Board of Directors. If a person acquires 20 percent or
more of Immucor's common stock without the approval of the Company's Board of
Directors, then all rights holders except the buyer will have the right to buy
Immucor common stock from Immucor at a discount. The effect is to discourage
acquisitions of 20% or more of Immucor's common stock without negotiating
directly with Immucor's Board of Directors.
The Rights will trade with Immucor's common stock, unless and until they are
separated upon the occurrence of certain future events. Immucor's Board of
Directors may redeem the rights at any time up to ten days after the time a
person acquires more than 20 percent of Immucor's common stock.
Immucor manufactures and sells a complete line of reagents and systems used by
hospitals, reference laboratories and donor centers to detect and identify
certain properties of the cell and serum components of blood prior to
transfusion. Founded in 1982, Immucor markets a complete family of automated
instrumentation for all of our market segments.
For more information on Immucor, please visit the company's website at
www.immucor.com.
xxx
