<PAGE> 1
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): March 22, 1999
AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
CALIFORNIA 001-08789 942918118
(State of other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
</TABLE>
4 EMBARCADERO CENTER SUITE 3620
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111
(Address of principal executive offices)
(415) 788-5300
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
<PAGE> 2
Item 5. Other Events.
On March 22, 1999 the Board of Directors of American Shared
Hospital Services (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right
for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, no par value ("Common
Stock"), to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 1999.
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one-thousandth of one share of Common Stock at a purchase price (the "Purchase
Price") of $8.00 per whole share of Common Stock (equivalent to $0.008 for each
one-thousandth of one share of Common Stock), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Agreement") dated as of March 22, 1999 between the Company and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and the
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender
offer or exchange offer, which, if consummated, would result in a person or
group becoming an Acquiring Person.
The Rights Agreement exempts from the definition of "Acquiring
Person" Ernest A. Bates, M.D., his estate and any trust or other estate planning
vehicle for Dr. Bates or his relations by blood or marriage.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after April 1,
1999 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding 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 1, 2009, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise provided in
the Rights Agreement, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
2
<PAGE> 3
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution Date, a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock at a 50%
discount from the then current market price. If an insufficient number of shares
of Common Stock is authorized for issuance, then the Board would be required to
substitute cash, property or other securities of the Company for the Common
Stock. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the
event set forth in this paragraph, all rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable
following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph until such
time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $0.008 per Right, the holder of
1,000 Rights not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties)
following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would be entitled
thereby to purchase $8.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) at a purchase price per share equal to 50% of the then current
market price of a share of Common Stock. Assuming that the Common Stock had a
per share value of $8.00 at such time, the holder of 1,000 valid Rights would be
entitled to purchase one share of Common Stock for $4.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or (ii) 50%
or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth
above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock
of the acquiring company at a 50% discount from the then current market price of
such common stock. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The purchase price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the shares of
Common Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights,
options or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. In lieu thereof,
there shall be paid to registered holders of Rights Certificates an amount in
cash based on the market price of the shares of Common Stock on the last trading
day prior to the date of exercise.
3
<PAGE> 4
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Company having equivalent
rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash,
Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors) at any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing any
redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
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. While the distribution of the Rights will not
result in the recognition of taxable income by shareholders or the Company,
shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income
after a Triggering Event.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group
of affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except that from and after
such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This 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.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
No financial statements or pro forma financial information are
required to be filed as part of this report. The exhibit filed as part of this
report is listed in the exhibit index hereto.
4
<PAGE> 5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 31, 1999 AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
By /s/ Ernest A. Bates, M.D.
---------------------------------
Ernest A. Bates, M.D.
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
5
<PAGE> 6
EXHIBIT INDEX
NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT*
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<CAPTION>
Sequential
Ex. No. Description Page No.
- ------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
1 None
2 None
4 Rights Agreement dated as of March 22, 1999 between
American Shared Hospital Services and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
16 None
17 None
20 None
23 None
24 None
27 None
</TABLE>
---------------------
*Exhibits not listed are inapplicable.
6
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Shared Hospital Services
and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
Rights Agent
------------------------------------
Rights Agreement
Dated as of March 22, 1999
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<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<S> <C> <C>
Section Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions..........................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent..................................................................4
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.................................................................4
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates..................................................................6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration............................................................6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..................................7
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights................................8
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.........................................10
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock...............................................10
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date....................................................................11
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights..................................................................................12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares..................................19
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power........................19
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.....................................................21
Section 15. Rights of Action............................................................................22
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.................................................................22
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..........................................23
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.................................................................23
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent...................................23
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent......................................................................24
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent......................................................................26
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.........................................................27
Section 23. Redemption and Termination..................................................................27
Section 24. Exchange....................................................................................28
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events....................................................................29
Section 26. Notices.....................................................................................30
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments..................................................................30
Section 28. Successors..................................................................................31
Section 29. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc....................................31
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement..................................................................31
Section 31. Severability................................................................................32
Section 32. Governing Law...............................................................................32
Section 33. Counterparts................................................................................32
Section 34. Descriptive Headings........................................................................32
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 3
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 22, 1999 (this "Agreement"),
is by and between American Shared Hospital Services, a California corporation
(the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York
corporation (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on March 22, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared, a dividend
distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) for each share of Common
Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the Close of
Business on April 1, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock of the Company,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the
"Rights"), and has further authorized the issuance of one Right for each share
of Common Stock issued between the Record Date and the earlier of the
Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter
defined) or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22, after the
Distribution Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not
include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan, or any Exempt Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall
become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of shares of Common
Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding,
increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person
to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding; provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the
Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock, then such Person
shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person". Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (a)) has become such inadvertently, and such Person
divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock
so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a)), then such Person
shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this
Agreement.
<PAGE> 4
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, 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 tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase
or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any
time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any such
Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or
pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 (the "Original Rights") or
pursuant to Section 11(i) 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
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<PAGE> 5
subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (d)) or disposing of any voting
securities of the Company;
provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (d) shall cause a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
a day on which banking institutions in the State of California are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, no par value, of the
Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other
than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest
voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to
control or direct the management, of such Person.
(h) "Exempt Person" shall mean Ernest A. Bates, M.D., the estate of
Ernest A. Bates, M.D. or any currently existing or subsequently established
trust, plan or other entity or vehicle for the benefit of Ernest A. Bates, M.D.
or any of his relations by blood or marriage, or any Person who is the
beneficial owner of any Common Stock held by or pursuant to the terms and
conditions of any such entity or vehicle.
(i) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, limited liability
company, corporation, partnership or other entity and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(j) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event described in Section
11(a)(ii).
(k) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a).
(l) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient
to elect at least a majority of the directors of
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<PAGE> 6
such corporation is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person,
or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(n) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have
the meanings indicated in specified sections of this Agreement: (i) "Adjustment
Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii); (ii) "common
share equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii); (iii)
"current market price" shall have the meanings set forth in Section 11(d); (iv)
"Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii); (v)
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a); (vi)
"equivalent common shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b);
(vii) "Nasdaq" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d); (viii)
"Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b); (ix)
"Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 4(a), 11(a)(ii)
and 13; (x) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a); (xi) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a); (xii) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii); (xiii) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii); (xiv) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii); (xv) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(b); and (xvi) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d).
Section 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, 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.
Section 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, if
the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date,
the Close of Business on the Record Date), or (ii) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan, or any Exempt Person) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
(the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution
Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (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
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<PAGE> 7
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
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.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"),
by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock
as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common
Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the holders
thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until
the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is
defined in Section 7(a)), the surrender for transfer of any certificate
representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued,
with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, 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 Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22, after the
Distribution Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall
also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between American
Shared Hospital Services (the "Company") and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (the "Rights Agent") dated as of March 22, 1999 (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in
effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of
a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in
the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is,
was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or 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.
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<PAGE> 8
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 surrender
for transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates. In
the event the Company purchases or acquires any shares of its Common Stock after
the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with
such shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any rights associated with shares of Common Stock which
are no longer outstanding.
Section 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, the Rights
Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date or, in
the case of Rights with respect to shares of Common Stock issued or becoming
outstanding after the Record Date, the same date as the stock certificate
evidencing such shares, 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 per whole share of Common Stock set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the amount of Common Stock or other 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 that represents Rights beneficially owned by any Person known to be: (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 of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e), and any Rights Certificate
issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 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:
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<PAGE> 9
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.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman,
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
countersigned manually or by facsimile signature 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 certificate number and the date of
each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a)
Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to
the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 7(e) or that have been exchanged pursuant to
Section 24) 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, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate
or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the
case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the
Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the
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principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14 and Section 24,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificates if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) Subject to Section 7(e), 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))
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 one-thousandth of the Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one-thousandths of one share 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 earliest of (i) the
Close of Business on April 1, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time
at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged pursuant to Section 24 (the earliest of (i),
(ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each whole share of Common Stock pursuant to
the exercise of a Right shall initially be $8.00 (equivalent to $0.008 for each
one-thousandth of one share of Common Stock), and shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) 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 of the Purchase
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<PAGE> 11
Price for the shares of Common Stock (or 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 (as determined by the Rights Agent) required to be
paid by the holder of the Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9, the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k), 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 the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of shares of Common Stock as are to
be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Common Stock
represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the
depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply
with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii)) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft
payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated
to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other
property pursuant to Section 11(a), the Company will make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The
Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering
Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that
only whole shares of the Common Stock would be issued.
(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.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a) (ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (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 (or
any Affiliate or Associate thereof) to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) or to any Person with
whom the
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<PAGE> 12
Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) has any continuing
agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B)
a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of
a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect
the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any
further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever
with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) 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 any of its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (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.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled 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 Certificates 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.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued other securities) or any authorized and issued shares of 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), 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 may be listed on any national securities
exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from
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<PAGE> 13
and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for
such issuance to be listed on such exchange 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), 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, and a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has not occurred, the Company may
temporarily suspend the exercisability of 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 if the requisite qualification or exemption in such
jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be
permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have been
declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such actions
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
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay, when due
and payable, any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and
of any shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) 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
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 or depositary receipts for shares of Common Stock (or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights
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<PAGE> 14
until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of
such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be)
is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock (or other securities,
as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated,
the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and 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.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common
Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number
of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as
otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e), the Purchase
Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock or
capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares
of Common Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time
when the Common Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such
holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive
by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification.
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<PAGE> 15
(ii) Subject to Section 24, in the event any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e)) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price
for a whole share of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the
result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price for
a whole share of Common Stock by the then number of one-thousandths of
a share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y)
dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence shall
thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and
for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) 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 certificate 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 value of
the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the
"Current Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the
applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase
Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company which the Board of
Directors of the Company has deemed to have substantially the same
value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock ("common share
equivalents"), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal
to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase
Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors
of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within
thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right
of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and
(y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"),
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for
exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal
to the Spread. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term
"Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the Current Value over (ii) the
Purchase Price. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall
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<PAGE> 16
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 thirty (30) day period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that action is to be taken
pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e),
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 such shareholder approval
for such 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
each Adjustment Share shall be the current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)) per share of Common Stock on the Section
11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common share equivalent"
shall be deemed to equal the current market price per share of Common
Stock.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights (other than the Rights), options or warrants to all holders of shares of
Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring
within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) shares of Common
Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the
shares of Common Stock ("equivalent common shares")) or securities convertible
into shares of Common Stock or equivalent common shares at a price per share of
Common Stock or per equivalent common share (or having a conversion price per
share, if a security convertible into shares of Common Stock or equivalent
common shares) less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) 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 shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of
additional shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent common shares 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 of Directors of the
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<PAGE> 17
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company
shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to
all holders of shares of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a cash dividend out
of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a
dividend payable in shares of 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)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per
share of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights) of the
portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or
of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Common Stock
and the denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)) 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), 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 Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading
Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and
for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii), 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 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 Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into such shares of Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination
or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of the
requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set
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<PAGE> 18
forth above, then, and in each such case, the "current market price" shall be
properly adjusted to take into account any trading during the period prior to
such ex-dividend date or record date. The closing price for each day shall be
the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the American Stock
Exchange or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on the American Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal
national securities exchange on which the 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 ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in
use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by
the Board of Directors of the Company. 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 of Directors of the Company 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 of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a share of Common
Stock. 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) or
Section 13(a), the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any capital stock of the Company 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
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<PAGE> 19
(m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 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, the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
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 one-ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x)
the number of shares of Common Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to
this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each
of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record
prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest 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, the additional Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the
Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution
and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the
date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall
be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may
bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
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<PAGE> 20
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price and the number of 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 nonassessable 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 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 the Board of Directors of the Company, in its good faith
judgment, 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 covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)),
(ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), 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)), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or
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<PAGE> 21
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, sale or
transfer, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute,
the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) shall have received a
distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates
and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date,
it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27, 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.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13, 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.
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
such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) In the event that, directly or indirectly, at any time after
a Person has become an Acquiring Person, (x) the Company shall consolidate with,
or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), 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)) 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 the
Company 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 one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), 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), shall thereafter have the right to receive upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price for a whole share of Common
Stock in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and in lieu of shares of
Common Stock of the Company, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not
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<PAGE> 22
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse
claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (l) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price for a whole share of Common Stock by the number of
one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, 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 (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) per share of 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 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 its shares of 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) 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 Stock 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
its authorized shares of Common Stock
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<PAGE> 23
which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto
the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of
assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date; and
(ii) 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).
Section 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 or admitted to trading on the American Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the American Stock
Exchange, as reported to the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
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<PAGE> 24
market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right.
Section 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
Sections 18 and 20, 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, his or her 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.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every 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;
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<PAGE> 25
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f), 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 certificates 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),
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
reasonable efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.
Section 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 to be the holder of the shares of Common
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
upon 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 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 Section 25), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance
with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in
the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the
Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense, incurred without negligence 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.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
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<PAGE> 26
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or
otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate
trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto. 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 the time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed,
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case, at
that time, any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be
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<PAGE> 27
conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, 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 be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recital contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 7(e)) or any adjustment required under
the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24 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 nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, 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 for any action taken or suffered to be taken
by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer.
(h) 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
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<PAGE> 28
pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be
interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, that reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has 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.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove
the Rights Agent or any 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
or her 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 organized and doing business in good standing under the laws of the
United States or any state of the United States and which is authorized under
such laws to exercise corporate trust or share transfer powers. After
appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers,
rights,
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<PAGE> 29
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 reasonable 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 or any defect therein
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the 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 shall,
with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the
exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or
awarded prior to the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing an appropriate number
of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i)
no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the
Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the
Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination. (a) The Board of Directors of
the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
Close of Business on the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if
the Stock Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the
Close of Business on the tenth day following the Record 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 share split, share dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"). Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's
right of redemption hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay
the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "current
market price", as defined in Section 11(d), of the Common Stock at the time of
redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board
of Directors. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made
-27-
<PAGE> 30
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company 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.
Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at
its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange
all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not
include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e))
for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board 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 of any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to
the terms of any such plan, or any Exempt Person), together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of fifty percent
(50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (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 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 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 will be effected pro rata based on the
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<PAGE> 31
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e)) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its
option, may substitute common share equivalents (as such term is defined in
Section 11(a)(iii)) for some or all of the shares of Common Stock exchangeable
for Rights.
(d) 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 actions as may be necessary to authorize additional
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of
Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there shall be
paid to the registered holders of the 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 share of
Common Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e), the current market value
of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. (a) In case the Company shall
propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Common Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Common Stock (other than a 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 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
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)), 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)), 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, 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)
-29-
<PAGE> 32
above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders
of the 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 the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall occur, then
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, 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).
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
American Shared Hospital Services
4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 3620
San Francisco, California 94111
Attention: 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:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Co.
40 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights Certificates in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person,
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<PAGE> 33
this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would adversely affect
the interests of the holders of Rights. Upon delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
interest of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests
of the holders of Common Stock. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may
at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend
this Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1(a) and 3(a) to a
percentage that (subject to exceptions for specified Persons or groups excepted
from the definition of "Acquiring Person") is not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock then known by the Company to be beneficially owned by any Person (other
than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, any Person organized, appointed
or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan or
any Exempt Person or, to the extent excepted from the definition of "Acquiring
Person", other specified persons or groups) and (ii) 10.0%.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determination 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)(l)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company
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, but not limited to, a determination to redeem or not redeem the
Rights or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and
binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all
other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any
liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of
-31-
<PAGE> 34
the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders
of the Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company 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 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 of the
Company.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of California and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
-32-
<PAGE> 35
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
By: /s/ Richard Magary By: /s/ Ernest A. Bates, M.D.
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
Name: Richard Magary Name: Ernest A. Bates, M.D.
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Attest: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY
By: /s/ Susan Silber By: /s/ Herbert J. Lemmer
------------------------------ -----------------------------------
Name: Susan Silber Name: Herbert J. Lemmer
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President
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<PAGE> 36
Exhibit A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 1, 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, AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON
(AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF
SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]
A-1
<PAGE> 37
Rights Certificate
AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
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 March 22, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between American
Shared Hospital Services, a California corporation (the "Company"), and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to
purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (California time) on
April 1, 2009 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one-thousandth of one fully paid,
nonassessable share of Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company, at a purchase price (the "Purchase Price") of $8.00 per whole share of
Common Stock (equivalent to $0.008 for each one-thousandth of one share of
Common Stock), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with
the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares
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
March 22, 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 such 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.
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
A-2
<PAGE> 38
the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned offices
of the Rights Agent and are available upon written request.
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 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, in each case at the option of the Company, be (i)
redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $.01 per Right or
(ii) exchanged in whole or in part for shares of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
of the Company authorizing redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only
right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
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 obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned manually or by facsimile
signature by the Rights Agent.
A-3
<PAGE> 39
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of __________, ____
ATTEST: AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
By:
- --------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Secretary Name:
Title:
Countersigned:
[ ]
By:
---------------------------
Authorized Signature
A-4
<PAGE> 40
[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:
A-5
<PAGE> 41
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 an Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined pursuant to 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 an Acquiring
Person.
Dated: ___________, ____
--------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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.
A-6
<PAGE> 42
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
TO: AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ______ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares (or other securities) 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:
A-7
<PAGE> 43
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 an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined pursuant to 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
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
A-8
<PAGE> 44
Exhibit B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
On March 22, 1999 the Board of Directors of American Shared Hospital
Services (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of the Company's common stock, no par value ("Common Stock"),
to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 1999. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one-thousandth of
one share of Common Stock at a purchase price (the "Purchase Price") of $8.00
per whole share of Common Stock (equivalent to $0.008 for each one-thousandth
of one share of Common Stock), subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
dated as of March 22, 1999 between the Company and American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and the
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock
Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender
offer or exchange offer, which, if consummated, would result in a person or
group becoming an Acquiring Person.
The Rights Agreement exempts from the definition of "Acquiring Person"
Ernest A. Bates, M.D., his estate and any trust or other estate planning
vehicle for Dr.Bates or his relations by blood or marriage.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after April 1,
1999 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding 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 1, 2009, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise provided in
the Rights Agreement, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
B-1
<PAGE> 45
In the event that, at any time following the Distribution Date, a person
or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock at a 50% discount from
the then current market price. If an insufficient number of shares of Common
Stock is authorized for issuance, then the Board would be required to substitute
cash, property or other securities of the Company for the Common Stock.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set
forth in this paragraph, all rights that are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the
occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph until such time as the
Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $0.008 per Right, the holder of
1,000 Rights not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties)
following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would be entitled
thereby to purchase $8.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) at a purchase price per share equal to 50% of the then current
market price of a share of Common Stock. Assuming that the Common Stock had a
per share value of $8.00 at such time, the holder of 1,000 valid Rights would be
entitled to purchase one share of Common Stock for $4.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation, or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
(except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the
acquiring company at a 50% discount from the then current market price of such
common stock. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The purchase price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the shares of
Common Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights,
options or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. In lieu thereof,
there shall be paid to registered holders of Rights Certificates an amount in
cash based on the market price of the shares of Common Stock on the last trading
day prior to the date of exercise.
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<PAGE> 46
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will
have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Company having equivalent
rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right (subject to adjustment and payable in cash, Common
Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors) at
any time until ten days following the Stock Acquisition Date. Immediately upon
the action of the Board of Directors authorizing any redemption, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
redemption price.
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. While the distribution of the Rights will not
result in the recognition of taxable income by shareholders or the Company,
shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income
after a Triggering Event.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment
to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i)
the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group
of affiliated or associated persons and (ii) 10%, except that from and after
such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an
Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This 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.
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