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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 9, 2000
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 1-14443 04-3099750
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
Post Office Box 10212
56 TOP GALLANT ROAD
STAMFORD, CT 06904-2212
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 316-1111
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On February 9, 2000, the Board of Directors of Gartner Group, Inc. (the
"Company") adopted a stockholder rights plan, pursuant to which it declared a
dividend of one Class A Preferred Share Purchase Right (a "Class A Right") and
one Class B Preferred Share Purchase Right (a "Class B Right") (collectively,
the "Rights") for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock (a "Class A
Common Share") and each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock (a "Class B
Common Share"), respectively, payable to holders of record of the Common Stock
on February 25, 2000. In connection with the stockholder rights plan, the
Company entered into a Rights Agreement with Bank Boston, N.A., as Rights Agent,
dated February 10, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"), and filed a duly adopted
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock
of the Company (the "Series A Preferred Shares" and the "Series B Preferred
Shares," respectively, and collectively, the "Preferred Shares"), with the
Delaware Secretary of State.
As more fully described in the Rights Agreement, each Class A Right and
each Class B Right, when exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share (in the case
of a Class A Right) and one one-thousandth of a Series B Preferred Share (in the
case of a Class B Right) at a price of $90 per one one-thousandth per Preferred
Share, subject to adjustment. The Rights become exercisable upon the earlier of:
(i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons (an "has acquired or obtained the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of (a) 20% or more of the outstanding Class A Common
Shares, or (b) 20% or more of the outstanding Class B Common Shares, or (c) 15%
of the aggregate of the Common Shares (each, a "Threshold Amount") or (ii) 10
business days following the commencement of, or announcement of, a tender offer
or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person of a Threshold Amount (the "Distribution Date"). The
Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the
close of business on February 25, 2010, unless earlier redeemed by the Company.
The Rights are not exercisable by the person or group that acquires a Threshold
Amount or commences a tender or exchange offer for a Threshold Amount.
Additionally, stockholders who currently own Company stock in excess of a
Threshold Amount will not cause the Rights to become exercisable based on their
current ownership.
At any time prior to the earlier to occur of: (i) the Distribution
Date; or (ii) the expiration of the Rights, and other certain other
circumstances, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $0.001 per Right payable, at the Company's election, in cash or in
Class A Common Shares (in the case of Class A Rights) or Class B Common Shares
(in the case of Class B Rights) (the "Redemption Price").
The Rights Agreement, the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and
Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares and Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Shares and the Press Release announcing the adoption of
the shareholders rights plan are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as
Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3, respectively.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
Dated: March 1, 2000 By: /s/ Michael D. Fleisher
President and Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
NO. DOCUMENT
99.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2000, between
Gartner Group, Inc. and Bank Boston, N.A., as Rights Agent,
with related exhibits.
99.2 Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, effective March
1, 2000.
99.3 Press Release announcing adoption of shareholder rights plan
by Board of Directors of the Company, dated February 9, 2000.
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EXHIBIT 99.1
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
AND
BANK BOSTON, N.A.
AS RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 10, 2000
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (the "Agreement"), is entered into as of February
10, 2000, by and between Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Bank Boston, N.A., a national banking association, as Rights
Agent (the "Rights Agent").
On February 9, 2000 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board
of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend of one Class A
Preferred Share Purchase Right (a "Class A Right") for each Class A Common Share
(as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business
(as hereinafter defined) and one Class B Preferred Share Purchase Right (a
"Class B Right") (the Class A Rights and Class B Rights being collectively
referred to as "Rights") for each Class B Common Share outstanding (as
hereinafter defined) on February 25, 2000 (the "Record Date"), each Class A
Right representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement), and each Class B Right representing the
right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement), in each case having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth
in the form of Certificate of Designations of Rights, Preferences and Privileges
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed
the issuance of one Class A Right and one Class B Right (as such number may be
adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each
Class A Common Share and each Class B Common Share, respectively, that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in
certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises 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 (i) 20% or more of the Class A Common Shares then
outstanding, or (ii) 20% of the Class B Common Shares then outstanding, or (iii)
15% of the Company's Common Shares then outstanding (each such share ownership
amount herein referred to as a "Threshold Amount"), but shall not include any
Excluded Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) or any Excepted Person (as
such term is hereinafter defined) but in the case of an Excepted Person only for
so long as such Person continues to meet the definition of an Excepted Person,
as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its good faith
discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an
Acquiring Person as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company
which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to a Threshold Amount;
provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of a
Threshold Amount then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company
and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial
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Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a
dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common
Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding
Common Shares), then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person
unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional Common Shares of
the Company such Person does not beneficially own a Threshold Amount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Company's Board of Directors
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 (including, without limitation, because (A) such
Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of the Common Shares
that would otherwise cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person, as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), or (B) such Person
was aware of the extent of the Common Shares it beneficially owned but had no
actual knowledge of the consequences of such beneficial ownership under this
Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the
Company, and if such Person divested or divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an
Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement; and (ii) if, as of the
date hereof, any Person is the Beneficial Owner of a Threshold Amount, such
Person shall not be or become an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), unless and until such time as such
Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of additional Common Shares (other than
pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision
of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional Common Shares, such Person is not then the Beneficial Owner of a
Threshold Amount.
(b) "Adjustment Fraction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(i) hereof.
(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 Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(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 beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes
of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any
comparable or successor law or regulation);
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with
and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public
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offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section
1(d)(ii)(A) to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1)
securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf
of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (2) securities
which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to
have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement
between the Company and such Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or
Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to vote
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that
a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own,
any security under this Section 1(d)(ii)(B) if the agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or
consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and
regulations of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule
13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (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 (other than
customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to
Section 1(d)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided,
however, that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed
(x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer
or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such
persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (y) the
Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of
any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the
officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer or director
may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York or the city in which
the office of the Rights Agent is located 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., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company
shall mean the Class A Common Shares and the Class B Common Shares,
collectively. Common Shares when used with reference to any Person other than
the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest)
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with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is
a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control
such first-mentioned Person.
(h) "Class A Common Shares" shall mean shares of the Company's
Common Stock, Class A, par value $0.0005.
(i) "Class B Common Shares" shall mean shares of the Company's
Common Stock, Class B, par value $0.0005.
(j) "Class A Rights Certificate" shall mean a certificate
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(k) "Class B Rights Certificate" shall mean a certificate
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(l) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(m) "Company" shall mean Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, subject to the terms of Section 13(a)(iii)(C) hereof.
(n) "Current Per Share Market Price" on any security (a
"Security" for purposes of this definition), for all computations other than
those made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, shall mean the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the Current Per Share Market Price
of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive Trading
Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that
the Current Per Share Market Price of the Security is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or
distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities
convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the applicable
thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per
Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day
shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place
on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last sale price or, if such last sale price is not reported, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by Nasdaq or such other
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system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished
by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making
a market in the Security, 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.
If the Series A Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the Current Per Share
Market Price of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be
the Current Per Share Market Price of the Class A Common Shares as determined
pursuant to this Section 1(n), as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof,
multiplied by 1,000, and if the Series B Preferred Shares are not publicly
traded, the Current Per Share Market Price of the Series B Preferred Shares
shall be conclusively determined to be the Current Per Share Market Price of the
Class B Common Shares as determined pursuant to this Section 1(n), as
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof, multiplied by 1000. If a Security
is not publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Per Share Market Price
shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(o) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(p) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the
Close of Business on the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date (or, if the
tenth day after the Shares 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 Company's
Board of Directors) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule
14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if,
assuming the successful consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring
Person.
(q) "Equivalent Shares" shall mean Preferred Shares and any
other class or series of capital stock of the Company which is entitled to the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares.
(r) "Excepted Percentage" applicable to any Excepted Person
shall, at any particular time, be a percentage of the then outstanding number of
shares of the Subject Class Beneficially Owned by such Person, which percentage
shall be equal to the sum of (A) the lesser of (i) the percentage of the
outstanding shares of the Subject Class Beneficially Owned by such Person on the
date hereof and (ii) the lowest percentage of the outstanding shares of the
Subject Class Beneficially Owned by such Person at any time hereafter, plus (B)
1% of the outstanding shares of the Subject Class.
(s) "Excepted Person" shall mean any Passive Investor that as
of the date hereof is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding
Class A Common Shares or Class B
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Common Shares (the applicable class being referred to as the "Subject Class");
so long as such Passive Investor (i) continues to be a Passive Investor, (ii)
does not become the Beneficial Owner of shares of the Subject Class in excess of
the Excepted Percentage; and (iii) does not become the Beneficial Owner of less
than 19% of the then outstanding shares of the Subject Class.
(t) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(u) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24(a) hereof.
(v) "Excluded Person" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary
of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary
of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan.
(w) "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(x) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close
of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, or (iii) the
time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as
provided in Section 24 hereof.
(y) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean February 25, 2010.
(z) "Interested Person" with respect to a Transaction shall
mean any Person who (i) is or will become an Acquiring Person if the Transaction
were to be consummated or an Affiliate or Associate of such a Person, and (ii)
is, or directly or indirectly proposed, nominated or financially supported a
director of the Company in office at the time of consideration of the
Transaction in question who was elected by written consent of stockholders.
(aa) "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.
(bb) "Passive Investor" shall mean a Person required by Rule
13d-1(a) of Regulation D-G promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended to
file a statement on Schedule 13D in respect of such Person's beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Shares, but who may, in lieu of filing such
statement on Schedule 13D, file a statement on Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule
13d-1(b) or Rule 13d-1 (c) of Regulation D-G.
(cc) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or
other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(dd) "Post-Event Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(e) hereof.
(ee) "Pre-Event Transferee" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(e) hereof.
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(ff) "Preferred Shares" shall mean the Series A Preferred
Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares.
(gg) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(hh) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.
(ii) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.
(jj) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.
(kk) "Right" shall mean a Class A Right or a Class B Right and
the term "Rights" shall mean all Class A Rights and Class B Rights.
(ll) "Rights Agent" shall mean Bank Boston, N.A. or its
successor or replacement as provided in Sections 19 and 21 hereof.
(mm) "Rights Certificate" shall mean either a Class A Right
Certificate or Class B Right Certificate, in the forms attached hereto as
Exhibits B and C, respectively, and the term "Rights Certificates" shall have a
corresponding meaning.
(nn) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.
(oo) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(pp) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(qq) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
(rr) "Series A Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
(ss) "Series B Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
(tt) "Shares 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; provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an
Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition
Date shall be deemed to have occurred.
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(uu) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(vv) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect a
majority of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such
corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, or any corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such
Person.
(ww) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(xx) "Summary of Rights" shall mean a summary of this
Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
(yy) "Total Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 4(a) hereof.
(zz) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal
national securities exchange on which a referenced security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if a referenced
security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day.
(aaa) "Transaction" shall mean any merger, consolidation or
sale of assets described in Section 13(a) hereof or any acquisition of Common
Shares which would result in a Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
(bbb) A "Triggering Event" shall be deemed to have occurred
upon any Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event
be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Class A Rights and
the Class B Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b)
and 3(c) hereof) by the certificates for Class A Common Shares and Class B
Common Shares, respectively, registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by
separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares.
Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender
for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the
surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the
Company will prepare and execute,
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the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent
(and the Rights Agent will, if requested and provided with all necessary
information, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder
of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate
evidencing one Class A Right and one Class B Right for each Class A Common Share
or Class B Common Share so held, respectively, subject to adjustment as provided
herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share
has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof, then at the time of distribution of
the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate
rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash
is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be
transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby,
separately and apart from any transfer of Common Shares, and the holders of such
Rights Certificates as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer
agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof.
(b) On the Record Date or as soon as practicable thereafter,
the Company will send a copy of the Summary of Rights by first-class, postage-
prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business
on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company's transfer agent and registrar. With respect to certificates for Common
Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date
(or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a
copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or
before the time of the issuance of any Common Shares specifies to the contrary,
Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued 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 hereof, after the
Distribution Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares 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 A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN GARTNER
GROUP, INC., AND BANK BOSTON, N.A. AS THE RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 10, 2000 (AS AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM
TIME TO TIME, THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF GARTNER GROUP, INC., 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.
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<PAGE> 11
GARTNER GROUP, INC., WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY
OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN
REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES 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.
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 Shares represented by such certificates shall
be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any
such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(d) In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any
Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any
Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired
so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Class A Rights Certificates and the Class B Rights
Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Class A Common Shares and
Class B Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall be substantially in the forms of Exhibit B and Exhibit C hereto,
respectively, and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and which do not affect the duties or responsibilities of the Rights
Agent and 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 or a
national market system, on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or
included, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and
Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated
as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common
Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance
of such Common Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one-thousandths of a Series A Preferred Share (in the
case of the Class A Rights) or Series B Preferred Share (in the case of the
Class B Rights) as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein
(such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exercise Price" and the aggregate Exercise Price
of all Series A Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares, as the case may
be, issuable upon exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as the
"Total Exercise Price"), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon
the exercise of each Right and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment
as provided herein.
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(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Company's Board of Directors has determined
is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose
or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement
or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence,
shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR
AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Chief
Financial Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the 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 on behalf of the Company had not ceased to be such officer of the
Company; and any Rights Certificate 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 and receipt by the Rights
Agent of all necessary information, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be
kept, at its office designated for such purposes, books for registration and
transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
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<PAGE> 13
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24
hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at
or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or,
following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the
case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then
entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer,
split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall
surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split
up, combined or exchanged at the office 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 Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver
to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as
the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates. The Rights
Agent shall have no duty or obligation under this Section 6 unless and until the
Rights Agent is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new
Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed
or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date
of Rights.
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 23(b) and 24(b) hereof, the
registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced
thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date by surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the
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<PAGE> 14
reverse side thereof duly and properly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of
the Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) as
to which the Rights are exercised.
(b) The Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Series A
Preferred Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Class A Right and the
Exercise Price for each one-thousandth of a Series B Preferred Share issuable
pursuant to the exercise of a Class B Right shall in each case initially be
Ninety Dollars ($90.00), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, and shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly and properly
executed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other
securities, cash or other assets as the case may be) to be purchased and an
amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder
of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available,
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) a
certificate or certificates for the number of one-thousandths of a Series A
Preferred Share or Series B Preferred Share, as the case may be (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be), 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 one-thousandths of a Series A Preferred Share or
Series B Preferred Share, as the case may be (or, following a Triggering Event,
other securities, cash or other assets as the case may be), issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one-thousandths
of a Series A Preferred Share or Series B Preferred Share, as the case may be
(or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets as the
case may be), as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
respective Preferred Shares (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities,
cash or other assets as the case may be) represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company
hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when
appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu
of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii)
after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be
delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment
of the Exercise Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero)
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) and an amount equal to any applicable tax
or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in
accordance with Section 9(e) hereof, may be made in cash or by certified bank
check, cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the
event that the Company is obligated to issue securities of the Company other
than Preferred Shares, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a)
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<PAGE> 15
hereof, 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.
(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 to the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate or to his or her duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions
of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such (a "Post-Event Transferee"), (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 the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Company's Board of Directors 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) (a "Pre-Event Transferee") or (iv) any subsequent
transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post-Event Transferee or a Pre-
Event Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate
transferees, shall become null and void without any further action and no holder
of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights,
whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall
use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e)
and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any
holder of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure
to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such
Acquiring Person's 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, in addition to having complied with the requirements of Section
7(a) above, 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 or the Rights Agent 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 to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no 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
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<PAGE> 16
the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any Rights Certificate purchased or
acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights
Agent shall deliver all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall,
at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best
efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and
unissued Preferred Shares not reserved for another purpose (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued Common
Shares and/or other securities), the number of Preferred Shares of each series
(and, following the occurrence of the Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or
other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights.
(b) If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred
Shares on a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares
(and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be listed
on such exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and
after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it
is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for
such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise. The Company will not so list the Series A Preferred Shares
or Series B Preferred Shares without so listing shares of both series.
(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
Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights is described in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Securities 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
Securities 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 expiration of the
Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period 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, and notify
the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement and notification to the Rights Agent
at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. 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. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless
the requisite qualification
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<PAGE> 17
in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall
be available, and until a registration statement has been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time
of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the
Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all taxes and charges which may be payable in
respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of
any Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) upon the exercise of
Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or charge
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 certificates
or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares (or other securities of the
Company) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver
any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or
charge shall have been paid (any such tax or charge 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 or charge is due.
Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for
a number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or other securities of the
Company) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed
to have become the holder of record of Preferred Shares (or other securities of
the Company) 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 Total Exercise Price with respect to which the
Rights have been exercised (and any applicable taxes or charges) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the 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 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 holder
of Preferred Shares (or other securities of the Company) 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 Exercise Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind of shares or other property
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) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on any
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series of Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Preferred Shares of any series, (C) combine the outstanding
Preferred Shares of any series (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a
smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock
in a reclassification of any series of Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof: (1) the
Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of
the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be
adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained
by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such time by a
fraction (the "Adjustment Fraction"), the numerator of which shall be the total
number of Preferred Shares of such series (or shares of capital stock issued in
such reclassification of Preferred Shares) outstanding immediately following
such time and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Preferred
Shares of such series outstanding immediately prior to such time; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise
of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock
of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Right; and (2) the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital stock)
issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall equal the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or share of such other capital stock) as
was issuable upon exercise of such Right immediately prior to the occurrence of
the event described in clauses (A)- (D) of this Section 11(a)(i), multiplied by
the Adjustment Fraction; provided, however, that, no such adjustment shall be
made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) to the extent that there shall have
simultaneously occurred an event described in clause (A), (B), (C) or (D) of
Section 11(n) with a proportionate adjustment being made thereunder. Each Class
A Common Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of
Class A Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for the number of
one-thousandths of a Series A Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital
stock) as one Class A Common Share has associated with it immediately following
the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i) and each Class B Common
Share that shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant
to this Section 11(a)(i) shall have associated with it the number of Class B
Rights, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for the number of one-thousandths
of a Series B Preferred Share (or shares of such other capital stock) as one
Class B Common Share has associated with it immediately following the adjustment
made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(i).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event a Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such
Triggering Event each holder of a Class A Right or a Class B Right, except as
provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for
each such Right, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and payment of the Total Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
the occurrence of the Triggering Event, in lieu of a number of one-thousandths
of a Series A Preferred Share (in the case of the Class A Rights) or
one-thousandths of a Series B Preferred Share (in the case of the Class B
Rights), such number of Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares,
respectively, as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Triggering Event by
the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which such Right was
exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had
occurred)
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<PAGE> 19
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing
that product by 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price for Class A Common
Shares (in the case of the Class A Rights) or 50% of the Current Per Share
Market Price for Class B Common Shares (in the case of the Class B Rights) on
the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event; provided, however, that the
Exercise Price and the number of Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares
of the Company so receivable upon exercise of a Class A Right or Class B Right,
respectively, shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(e) hereof to reflect any events occurring in respect
of the Common Shares of the Company after the occurrence of the Triggering
Event.
(iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance
with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Company's Board of
Directors determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not
contrary to the interest of holders of Rights (and, in the event that the number
of Common Shares 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 are not sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance
has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall): (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Exercise Price (such excess, the
"Spread") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to
substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in the Exercise Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of any series of
preferred stock which the Company's Board of Directors has deemed to have the
same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares of preferred stock
are herein called "Common Stock Equivalents")), except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for
such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that the
Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for
such issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Company's Board of Directors based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company's Board of
Directors; 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 Triggering 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
Exercise Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent
that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory
approval for such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or
cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Company's Board of
Directors shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient
additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full
of the Rights or that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will
be obtained, 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 stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares or take action to obtain such
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<PAGE> 20
regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution
Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be
taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii),
the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in
order to seek any authorization of additional shares, to take any action to
obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the
value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
value of the Class A Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price
of the Class A Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, the value of
the Class B Common Shares shall be the Current Per Share Market Price of the
Class B Common Shares on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, and the value of
any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common
Shares of the relevant class on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of
this Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or
warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling such holders (for a period
expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or
having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred
Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then Current Per Share Market Price
of the Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares on such record date, then, in each
such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of Preferred Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be,
which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares or
Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered or issued (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be offered
or issued) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of Preferred Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any)
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares
or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Company's
Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent and shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes on
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred Shares and Equivalent
Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed
outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be
adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such record
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<PAGE> 21
date had not been fixed. The Company shall not effect any of the foregoing
corporate actions set forth in this Section 11(b) with respect to the Series A
Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares without taking similar action with
respect to each such series.
(c) In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of
this Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all
holders of the Preferred Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares
(including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash
dividend, if any, or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription
rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)),
then, in each such case, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
Current Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or an Equivalent Share on
such record date, less the fair market value per Preferred Share or Equivalent
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 which shall be conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the
cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Preferred Share or Equivalent
Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which shall be such Current
Per Share Market Price of a Preferred Share or Equivalent Share on such record
date; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid
upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the
shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. 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 Exercise Price shall be
adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed. The Company shall not effect any of the foregoing
corporate actions set forth in this Section 11(c) with respect to the Series A
Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares without taking similar action with
respect to each such series.
(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Exercise Price; provided,
however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(d) 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-thousandth of a Common Share or other
share or one hundred-thousandth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(d), 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 requires such adjustment or
(ii) the Expiration Date.
(e) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Shares,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and, if required, the Exercise 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
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<PAGE> 22
respect to the Preferred Shares contained in this Section 11, and the provisions
of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply
on like terms to any such other shares.
(f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(g) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(h), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a
result of the calculations made in Section 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 Exercise Price, that number of Series A
Preferred Shares (in the case of Class A Rights) or Series B Preferred Shares
(in the case of Class B Rights) (calculated to the nearest one
hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of
Preferred Shares covered by such Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by
(y) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the
Exercise Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price
in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price.
(h) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section
11(b) or (c) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment
in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each
of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which the
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 hundred-thousandth) obtained by
dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the
Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of
the Exercise 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, with prompt
notice thereof to the Rights Agent. This record date may be the date on which
the Exercise 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(h), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. 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 Exercise
Price) and shall be
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<PAGE> 23
registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
(i) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise
Price or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and
the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the
initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(j) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Exercise Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the number
of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 as
fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise Price.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer (with prompt notice thereof to
the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder
of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one-thousandths of
a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior
to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right
to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence
of the event requiring such adjustment.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled
to make such reductions in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments
expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole
discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation
or subdivision of the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash
of any Preferred or Common Shares at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred or Common Shares or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred or Common Shares,
(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 Preferred or
Common Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27
hereof, take (or permit to be taken) 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.
(n) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date
of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Class A Common Shares or Class B
Common Shares payable in
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<PAGE> 24
Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding
Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding
Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares (by reverse stock split or
otherwise) into a smaller number of Class A Common Shares or Class B Common
Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event,
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof: (1)
each Class A Common Share or Class B Common Share (or shares of capital stock
issued in such reclassification of the Common Shares) outstanding immediately
following such time shall have associated with it the number of Rights as were
associated with one Class A Common Share or Class B Common Share, as the case
may be, immediately prior to the occurrence of the event described in clauses
(A)-(D) above; (2) the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted so that the Exercise Price thereafter shall
equal the result obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such time by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
the total number of Class A Common Shares or Class B Common Shares, as the case
may be, outstanding immediately prior to the event described in clauses (A)-(D)
above, and the denominator of which shall be the total number of such
outstanding immediately after such event; provided, however, that in no event
shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than
the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of one-thousandths of a Class A
Preferred Share or Class B Preferred Share, as the case may be (or shares of
such other capital stock), issuable upon the exercise of each Right outstanding
after such event shall equal the number of one-thousandths of a Class A
Preferred Share or Class B Preferred Share, as the case may be (or shares of
such other capital stock) as were issuable with respect to one Right immediately
prior to such event. Each Class A Common Share and Class B Common Share that
shall become outstanding after an adjustment has been made pursuant to this
Section 11(n) shall have associated with it the number of Class A Rights or
Class B Rights, as the case may be, exercisable at the Exercise Price and for
the number of one-thousandths of a Class A Preferred Share or Class B Preferred
Share, as the case may be (or shares of such other capital stock) as one Class A
Common Share or Class B Common Share, as the case may be, has associated with it
immediately following the adjustment made pursuant to this Section 11(n). If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(n) and
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(n)
shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment
and a brief statement of the facts and computations accounting for such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such
certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such
adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The
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<PAGE> 25
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment contained therein and shall have no duty with respect to 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, following a Triggering Event, directly
or indirectly:
(i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of
incorporation of the Company and which complies with Section 11(m) and 11(n)
hereof);
(ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or
merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with
such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged
for stock or other securities of any other Person (or of the Company); or
(iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or
one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or
more 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
other Person or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-
owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which individually (and
together) complies with Section 11(m) hereof), then, concurrent with and in each
such case,
(1) each holder of a Right (except as
provided in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the Total Exercise Price
applicable immediately prior to the occurrence of the Section 13 Event in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradable Common Shares of the
Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances,
rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result
obtained by dividing such Total Exercise Price by 50% of the Current Per Share
Market Price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event, provided, however, that the Exercise
Price and the number of Common Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in
accordance with Section 11(e) hereof;
(2) 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;
(3) the term "Company" shall thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
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<PAGE> 26
(4) such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction
as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and
(5) upon the subsequent occurrence of any
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets or other extraordinary
transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each holder of a Right shall
thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Right and payment of the
Total Exercise Price as provided in this Section 13(a), such cash, shares,
rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have been entitled
to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned the Common
Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of such Right
pursuant to this Section 13(a), and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, reservation of shares of stock) as may be
necessary to permit the subsequent exercise of the Rights in accordance with the
terms hereof for such cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property.
(6) For purposes hereof, the "earning power"
of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be determined in good faith by the
Company's Board of Directors on the basis of the operating earnings of each
business operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries during the three fiscal
years preceding the date of such determination (or, in the case of any business
not operated by the Company or any Subsidiary during three full fiscal years
preceding such date, during the period such business was operated by the Company
or any Subsidiary).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Principal Party"
shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(i) or (ii) of Section 13(a) hereof: (A) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the Common Shares are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the Common
Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding,
or (B) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to
the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is more than one
such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which have the greatest aggregate
market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the other party
to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the
merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person resulting from
the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(iii) of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if more than one Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so transferred and each such portion would, were it not for the other
equal portions, constitute the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
so transferred, or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding;
provided, however, that in any such case described in the foregoing clause
(b)(i) or (b)(ii), if the Common
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<PAGE> 27
Shares of such Person are not at such time or have not been continuously over
the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
then (1) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the
Common Shares of which are and have been so registered, the term "Principal
Party" shall refer to such other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary,
directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Shares of which are
and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever
of such Persons is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate
market value of shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or
indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned,
directly or indirectly by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1)
and (2) above shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the
venture as if the Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or
all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall
bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its
interest in such Person bears to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event
unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common
Shares that 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 issuer shall have executed and delivered to the
Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party
shall, upon consummation of such Section 13 Event, assume this Agreement in
accordance with Sections 13(a) and 13(b) hereof, that all rights of first
refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such
Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there
are no rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements
or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction,
would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded
by the Rights and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such
Principal Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of such Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with applicable
state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the
listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on a national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements
for quotation on Nasdaq and list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on Nasdaq; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with
the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act.
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<PAGE> 28
In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering
Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a
transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not theretofore
been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in
Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment required by
Section 11(a)(ii)).
(d) In case the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(b) hereof has provision in any of its authorized securities or in its
Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its
corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such
Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to Section 13
hereof), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a
Section 13 Event, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such Principal Party at
less than the then Current Per Share Market Price thereof or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or Equivalent Shares of such
Principal Party at less than such then Current Per Share Market Price, or (ii)
providing for any special payment, tax or similar provision in connection with
the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the
provisions of Section 13 hereof, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees
with each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such transaction
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the
provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived
or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any
time after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Section 13
Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after such Section 13 Event there are
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders
of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for
purposes of Section 13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates or (iii)
the form or nature of organization of the Principal Party would preclude or
limit the exercisability of the Rights.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.
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 the purposes of this Section 14(a),
the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the
Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on
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which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable, as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than
fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). Interests in fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of
the Preferred Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of
fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current
market value of a Preferred Share shall be one thousand times the closing price
of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j)
hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares upon the exercise or exchange of Rights. In lieu of such fractional
Common Shares, 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 a Common
Share. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of a Common
Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to
the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of a Right.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for
his or her 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
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adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to
specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against
actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to
this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(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; and
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. 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 Preferred Shares
or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such 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
other disbursements incurred in the administration, preparation, delivery,
amendment and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of
its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for,
and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine,
penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense, incurred without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct as determined by a
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court of competent jurisdiction on the part of the Rights Agent, for any action
taken, suffered or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the costs
and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises. In no
event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect, incidental or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, even if the Rights Agent
has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage. The indemnity
provided herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the
termination and the expiration of the Rights. The Company shall pay the costs
and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification. Anything to
the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for
special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any
kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights
Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage. Any liability
of the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement will be limited to the amount of
fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent.
(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 the Preferred Shares or Common Shares or
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the
shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto; provided, however, that such Person would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent 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
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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 only
the duties and obligations expressly 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 written advice or opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent as to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such written advice or 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 Per Share Market Price) be proved or established by
the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such
fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, 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 to the Company
and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Rights Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to
have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any liability or
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due 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 or liable 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 or liable for any change in
the exercisability of the Rights or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
(including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11,
13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after
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receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12
describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or
any Rights Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued,
be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary 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, suffered or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for
those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions
from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing
any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights
Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such
omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action
taken or suffered by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a
proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such
application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the
date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any
such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior
to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission),
the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such
application specifying the action to be taken, suffered or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, Affiliate,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself
or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct absent gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, 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
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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 Preferred Shares and the Common Shares 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 Preferred
Shares and the Common Shares 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 the 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 (i) a Person organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United
States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or shareholder services powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million or (ii) an Affiliate of a Person described in (i). After appointment,
the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties
and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, and mail
a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
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
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Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of
Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and the
number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable
under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares
following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the
Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold
pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or
arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities of
the Company outstanding at the date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the
Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights
in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab
initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a
significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would
create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or
arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment
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.
(a) The Company may, at its option and with the approval of
the Board of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the
earlier of (i) the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of Directors
and publicly announced by the Company) and (ii) the Final Expiration Date,
redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $0.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price") and the
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Class A Common
Shares (with respect to Class A Rights) or Class B Common Shares (with respect
to Class B Rights) (based on the Current Per Share Market Price thereof at the
time of redemption) or cash. Such redemption of the Rights by the Company may be
made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board
of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The date on which the Board
of Directors elects to make the redemption effective shall be referred to as the
"Redemption Date."
(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.
The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided,
however, that the failure to give or any defect in, any such notice shall not
affect the validity of such redemption. Within ten (10) days 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 their last
addresses as
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they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of
redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price
will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may
redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other
than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and
other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the
Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and
subject to subsection 24(c) below, the Company may, at its option, by action of
the Board of Directors, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Class A Rights and
Class B Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Class A Common Shares and
Class B Common Shares, respectively, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any
time after any Acquiring Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Class A Common
Shares or 50% or more of the Class B Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(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 the holders of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company
shall give public notice of any such exchange with prompt notice thereof to the
Rights Agent; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in,
such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company 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 Shares for Rights will be
effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which
will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the
number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to
the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company
shall either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common
Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at
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the option of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash in
an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of
issuing Common Shares in exchange therefor, or (ii) issue debt or equity
securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value,
in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for each such Right, where the
value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by majority vote of the Board of Directors, or
(iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares and/or other
securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange for each Right.
For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall mean the
product of the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Shares on the date of
the occurrence of the event described above in subparagraph (a), multiplied by
the number of Common Shares for which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable
if there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii)
of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the
date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order
to seek any authorization of additional Common Shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision 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, with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share (as
determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 1(j) hereof).
(e) The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the
Board of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring
Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of
substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by
the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally
recognized investment banking firms.
(f) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection 24(e) 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 rights in exchange therefor as has
been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection 24(e)
above. The Company shall give public notice of any such exchange; provided,
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company 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 transfer agent for the Common Shares
of the Company, with prompt notice thereof to the Rights Agent. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be
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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 Rights will be
effected.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to
occur any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event, the Company shall give notice
thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 26 hereof at least
twenty (20) days prior to occurrence of such Triggering Event or such Section 13
Event.
(b) In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall
occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify
the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections
11(a)(ii) and 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any 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:
Gartner Group, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06904
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to:
Gartner Group, Inc.
56 Top Gallant Road
Stamford, Connecticut 06904
Attn: General Counsel
and
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
Attention: Larry Sonsini, Esq. and
Howard S. Zeprun, Esq.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder
of any Rights Certificate to or on
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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:
BANK BOSTON, N.A.
c/o EquiServe Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
ATTN: Client Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate 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. Prior to the occurrence of a
Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any
respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent
shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and
after the occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent
may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any
manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this
Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause
(iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other
time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the
Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance
with the terms of this Section 27 and such supplement or amendment does not
change or increase the Rights Agent's duties, liabilities or obligations, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.
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. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common
Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining
the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person
is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
The
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<PAGE> 40
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board, or the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject the
Board 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,
successors to such parties and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Shares).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
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 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right and each
Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under
the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State; provided, however, that all
provisions regarding the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York 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.
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<PAGE> 41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
"COMPANY" GARTNER GROUP, INC.
By:_______________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title:______________________________
"RIGHTS AGENT" BANK BOSTON, N.A.
By:_______________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title:______________________________
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<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF RIGHTS,
PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIES B JUNIOR
PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF GARTNER GROUP, INC.
The undersigned, Michael D. Fleisher and Cathy S. Satz do hereby
certify:
1. That they are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary of
Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation").
2. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of
Directors on February 9, 2000 adopted the following resolution creating a series
of ________ shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and a series of _____ shares of Preferred Stock
designated as Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock .
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors
of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors
does hereby provide for the issue of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock and Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Corporation
(collectively, the "Junior Preferred Stock"), and does hereby fix and herein
state and express the designations, powers, preferences and relative and other
special rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of such
series of such stock as follows (all terms used herein which are defined in the
Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to have the meanings provided
herein):
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of the two series shall
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock")and "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Series B Preferred Stock"), respectively, each such series having par value
$0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting each such series shall
be _______________ and __________________, respectively.
Section 2. Proportional Adjustment. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Junior Preferred Stock
(i) declare any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation ("Common Stock")
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the Corporation shall simultaneously effect a
proportional adjustment to the number of outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock.
<PAGE> 43
Section 3. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B
Preferred Stock shall each be equally entitled to receive when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June,
September and December, in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock or
Series B Preferred Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above immediately
after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) and shall not pay a dividend or make
a distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock or the Series B Preferred Stock
without paying an equal dividend or distribution on each such series.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of
Junior Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding
the date of issue of such shares of Junior Preferred Stock, unless the date of
issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to
accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock entitled to receive
a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either
of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue from such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.
Dividends paid on the shares of Junior Preferred Stock in an amount less than
the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such
shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such
shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock entitled to
receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record
date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment
thereof.
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<PAGE> 44
Section 4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Junior Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Each share of Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the
holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation, except that with respect to the election of
directors, holders of Junior Preferred Stock, voting together with the holders
of Class A Common Stock, shall be entitled to elect that number of directors
which constitutes 20% of the authorized number of members of the Board of
Directors (or, if such 20% is not a whole number, then the nearest lower whole
number of directors that is closest to 20% of such membership).
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Junior Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as required by law, holders of Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not
be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of
Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 5. Certain Restrictions.
(a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make
any distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Junior Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it
shall declare a dividend on the Junior Preferred Stock as required by Section 3
hereof.
(b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in Section 3 are
in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Junior Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, make any other
distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with Junior Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Junior Preferred Stock and all such parity
stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Junior Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or
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<PAGE> 45
otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any
stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock;
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Junior Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
with the Junior Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made
in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(c) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Junior Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein and, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended.
Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares
of Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per
share equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to
holders of shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid
dividends on such shares of Junior Preferred Stock.
Section 8. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Junior Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed
in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
Section 9. No Redemption. The shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
Section 10. Ranking. The Junior Preferred Stock shall rank junior to
all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series
shall provide otherwise.
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<PAGE> 46
Section 11. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preference or special rights of the Junior Preferred
Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders
of the outstanding shares of Junior Preferred Stock, voting separately as a
class.
Section 12. Fractional Shares. Junior Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Junior Preferred Stock.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation be, and they hereby are,
authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of Designations of
Rights, Preferences and Privileges in accordance with the foregoing resolution
and the provisions of Delaware law and to take such actions as they may deem
necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolution."
We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in
the foregoing Certificate of Designations are true and correct of our own
knowledge.
Executed at Stamford, Connecticut on February , 2000.
----
--------------------------------------
President
--------------------------------------
Secretary
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<PAGE> 47
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CLASS A RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. RA-__ ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i) February 25, 2010, (ii) THE DATE
TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE
RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE 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 RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
This certifies that ______________________________, or registered assigns,
is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Bank
Boston, N.A., a national banking association, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date
(as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on February 25, 2010, at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
- -----------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE> 48
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at an Exercise Price of Ninety Dollars ($90.00) per
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"), 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 one- thousandths of a Preferred Share
which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above are the number and
Exercise Price as of February 10, 2000, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise
Price and the number and kind of Preferred Shares 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.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option, at a
redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the Company in
whole or in part for Class A Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights or
other consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
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, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until
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<PAGE> 49
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 the Rights Agent shall have countersigned it.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of .
--------------------------
ATTEST: GARTNER GROUP, INC.
By: By:
------------------------------- -----------------------------
Secretary President
Countersigned:
BANK BOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By:
----------------------------------
Its:
----------------------------------
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<PAGE> 50
Form of Reverse Side of Class A Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to transfer the Class A Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto
___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
this Class A Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Class A Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated: _______________, _____
______________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Form of Reverse Side of Class A Rights Certificate -- continued
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must
conform to the name as written upon the face of this Class A Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE> 51
Form of Reverse Side of Class A Rights Certificate -- continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Class A Rights Certificate)
To: ________________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
_________________________ Class A Rights represented by this Class A Rights
Certificate to purchase the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
issuable upon the exercise of such Class A Rights and requests that certificates
for such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: _______________________________
___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
If such number of Class A Rights shall not be all the Class A Rights
evidenced by this Class A Rights Certificate, a new Class A Rights Certificate
for the balance remaining of such Class A 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:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE> 52
CLASS A CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Class A Rights Certificate / / is / / is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person,
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
/ / did / / did not acquire the Class A Rights evidenced by this Class A Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, _____
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE> 53
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CLASS B RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. RB-__ ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (i) FEBRUARY 25, 2010 (ii) THE DATE
TERMINATED BY THE COMPANY OR (iii) THE DATE THE COMPANY EXCHANGES THE
RIGHTS PURSUANT TO THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE 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 RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
This certifies that ______________________________, or registered assigns,
is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 2000 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Bank
Boston, N.A., a national banking association, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date
(as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New
York time, on February, 25, 2010, at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series B Junior
- --------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE> 54
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at an Exercise Price of Ninety Dollars ($90.00) per
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"), 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 one- thousandths of a Preferred Share
which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above are the number and
Exercise Price as of February 10, 2000, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise
Price and the number and kind of Preferred Shares 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.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company and the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company, at its option, at a
redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged by the Company in
whole or in part for Class B Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights or
other consideration as determined by the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to
receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No fractional portion of less than one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
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, as such, shall be entitled to vote
or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the
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<PAGE> 55
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 the Rights Agent shall have countersigned it.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal. Dated as of __________________________.
ATTEST: GARTNER GROUP, INC.
By: ___________________________ By: _____________________________
Secretary President
Countersigned:
BANK BOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By: _______________________________
Its: _______________________________
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<PAGE> 56
Form of Reverse Side of Class B Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires
to transfer the Class B Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto
___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
this Class B Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest
therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Class B Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated: _______________, _____ ____________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE> 57
Form of Reverse Side of Class B Rights Certificate -- continued
NOTICE
The signature in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must conform to
the name as written upon the face of this Class B Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Class B Rights Certificate)
To: ________________________________
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________________
Class B Rights represented by this Class B Rights Certificate to purchase the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of
such Class B Rights and requests that certificates for such number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: _______________________________
___________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
If such number of Class B Rights shall not be all the Class B Rights
evidenced by this Class B Rights Certificate, a new Class B Rights Certificate
for the balance remaining of such Class B 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: _______________, _____
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<PAGE> 58
_____________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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<PAGE> 59
CLASS B CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Class B Rights evidenced by this Class B Rights Certificate are
are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it did
did not acquire the Class B Rights evidenced by this Class B Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: _______________, _____
_____________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a
bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership
in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE> 60
EXHIBIT D
RIGHTS PLAN
GARTNER GROUP, INC.
Summary of Rights
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Distribution and Transfer of Rights, The Board of Directors of Gartner
Rights Certificate: Group, Inc. (the "Company") has
declared a dividend of one Class A
Right and one Class B Right,
respectively, for each share of Class
A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock (the "Rights") outstanding.
Prior to the Distribution Date
referred to below, the Rights will be
evidenced by and trade with the
certificates for the Common Stock.
(You will not receive a new
certificate evidencing the Rights).
After the Distribution Date, the
Company will mail Rights certificates
to the Company's stockholders and the
Rights will become transferable apart
from the Common Stock.
Distribution Date: Class A Rights and Class B Rights,
respectively, will separate from the
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock and become exercisable on the
eleventh day after (a) a person or
group (with certain exceptions)
acquires beneficial ownership of (i)
20% or more of the Company's Class A
Common Stock), (ii) 20% or more of the
Company's Class B Common Stock, or
(iii) 15% of the Company's Common Stock
(each, a "Threshold Amount"), or (b) a
person or group announces a tender or
exchange offer, the consummation of
which would result in ownership by a
person or group of a Threshold Amount
. The Board of Directors may extend
the date on which the Rights become
exercisable.
Stockholders who own in excess of a
Threshold Amount on the date of this
Agreement will not cause the Rights to
become exercisable based on
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 61
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
their current ownership.
Preferred Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise After the Distribution Date, (i) each
of Rights: Class A Right will entitle the holder
to purchase for $90, one
one-thousandth of a share of the
Company's Series A Preferred Stock
with economic terms similar to that
of one share of the Company's Class A
Common Stock; and (ii) each Class B
Right will entitle the holder to
purchase for $90, one one-thousandth
of a share of the Company's Series B
Preferred Stock with economic terms
similar to that of one share of the
Company's Class B Common Stock.
Flip-In:
If an "Acquiring Person" (as
defined in the Rights Agreement)
obtains a Threshold Amount, then each
Right (other than Rights owned by an
Acquiring Person or its affiliates)
will entitle the holder thereof to
purchase, for the Exercise Price, a
number of corresponding shares of the
Company's Class A Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock having a then
current market value of twice the
Exercise Price. For example, if the
stock is trading at a price of $30.00
per share, the Right will enable the
holder to purchase $180.00 of stock
(or 6 shares) for the $90.00 exercise
price. Alternatively, the board of
directors may elect to exchange
Rights held by persons other than the
proposed acquirer for Common Stock.
Flip-Over:
If, after an Acquiring Person
obtains a Threshold Amount, (a) the
Company merges into another entity,
(b) an acquiring entity merges into
the Company or (c) the Company sells
more than 50% of the Company's assets
or earning power, then each Right
(other than Rights owned by an
Acquiring Person or its affiliates)
will entitle the holder thereof to
purchase, for the Exercise Price, a
number of shares of Common Stock of
the Person engaging in the
transaction having a then current
market value of twice the
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 62
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Exercise Price. For example, if the
stock is trading at a price of $30.00
per share, the Right will enable the
holder to purchase $180.00 of stock
(or 6 shares) for the $90.00 exercise
price. Alternatively, the board of
directors may elect to exchange
Rights held by persons other than the
proposed acquirer for Common Stock.
Exchange Provision: At any time after the date an Acquiring
Person obtains a Threshold Amount and
prior to the acquisition by the
Acquiring Person of 50% of the
outstanding Class A Common Stock or 50%
of the outstanding Class B Common
Stock, the Board of Directors of the
Company may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by the Acquiring
Person or its affiliates), in whole or
in part, for shares of Common Stock of
the Company at an exchange ratio of one
share of Class A Common Stock per Class
A Right and one share of Class B Common
Stock per Class B Right (in each case
subject to adjustment).
Redemption of the Rights: Rights will be redeemable at the
Company's option for $0.001 per Right
at any time on or prior to the tenth
day (or such later date as may be
determined by the Board of Directors)
after public announcement that a Person
has acquired beneficial ownership of a
Threshold Amount.
Expiration of the Rights: The Rights expire on the earliest of
(a) February 25, 2010, (b) exchange
or redemption of the Rights as
described above.
Amendment of Terms of Rights: The terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be amended in any respect
without the consent of the Rights
holders on or prior to the Distribution
Date; thereafter, the terms of the
Rights and the Rights Agreement may be
amended without the consent of the
Rights holders in order to cure any
ambiguities or to make changes which do
not adversely affect the interests of
Rights holders (other than the
Acquiring Person).
Voting Rights: Rights will not have any voting rights.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 63
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Anti-Dilution Provisions: Rights will have the benefit of certain
customary anti-dilution provisions.
Taxes: The Rights distribution should not be
taxable for federal income tax
purposes. However, following an event
which renders the Rights exercisable or
upon redemption of the Rights,
stockholders may recognize taxable
income.
</TABLE>
The foregoing is a summary of certain principal terms of the Stockholder
Rights Plan only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed
terms of the Rights Agreement dated as of February 10, 2000, between the Company
and BANK BOSTON, N.A. as Rights Agent.
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.2
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF RIGHTS,
PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK AND SERIES B JUNIOR
PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF GARTNER GROUP, INC.
The undersigned, Michael D. Fleisher and Cathy S. Satz do hereby
certify:
1. That they are the duly elected and acting President and Secretary of
Gartner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation").
2. That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Certificate of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of
Directors on February 9, 2000 adopted the following resolution creating a series
of 166,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and a series of 84,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation, the
Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issue of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock and Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock of the Corporation (collectively, the "Junior Preferred Stock"), and
does hereby fix and herein state and express the designations, powers,
preferences and relative and other special rights and the qualifications,
limitations and restrictions of such series of such stock as follows (all
terms used herein which are defined in the Certificate of Incorporation
shall be deemed to have the meanings provided herein):
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of the two series shall be
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Series B Preferred Stock"), respectively, each such series having par value
$0.01 per share, and the number of shares constituting each such series shall
be One Hundred Sixty Six Thousand (166,000) and Eighty Four Thousand (84,000),
respectively.
Section 2. Proportional Adjustment. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after the issuance of any share or shares of Junior Preferred Stock (i)
declare any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation ("Common Stock") payable
in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the Corporation shall simultaneously effect a proportional
adjustment to the number of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and
Series B Preferred Stock.
<PAGE> 2
Section 3. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the prior and superior right of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares
of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B
Preferred Stock shall each be equally entitled to receive when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June,
September and December, in each year (each such date being referred to herein as
a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock or
Series B Preferred Stock.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Junior Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above immediately after it
declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock) and shall not pay a dividend or make a
distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock or the Series B Preferred Stock
without paying an equal dividend or distribution on each such series.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue on outstanding shares of Junior
Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date
of issue of such shares of Junior Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date
of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Junior Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and
before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such
dividends shall begin to accrue from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Junior Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such
dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro
rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of
shares of Junior Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days
prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
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<PAGE> 3
Section 4. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Junior Preferred Stock
shall have the following voting rights:
(a) Each share of Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of
the Corporation, except that with respect to the election of directors, holders
of Junior Preferred Stock, voting together with the holders of Class A Common
Stock, shall be entitled to elect that number of directors which constitutes 20%
of the authorized number of members of the Board of Directors (or, if such 20%
is not a whole number, then the nearest lower whole number of directors that is
closest to 20% of such membership).
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Junior Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall
vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as required by law, holders of Junior Participating
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not
be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of
Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 5. Certain Restrictions.
(a) The Corporation shall not declare any dividend on, make any
distribution on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Common Stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Junior Preferred Stock unless concurrently therewith it shall declare a
dividend on the Junior Preferred Stock as required by Section 3 hereof.
(b) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Junior Preferred Stock as provided in Section 3 are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether
or not declared, on shares of Junior Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been
paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with Junior Preferred Stock, except
dividends paid ratably on the Junior Preferred Stock and all such parity stock
on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts
to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Junior Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or
-3-
<PAGE> 4
otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any
stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Junior Preferred Stock;
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Junior Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
with the Junior Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made
in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(c) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 5, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 6. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Junior Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock
to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to
the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein and, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended.
Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Junior
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share equal
to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of
shares of Common Stock plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends
on such shares of Junior Preferred Stock.
Section 8. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Junior Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed
in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
Section 9. No Redemption. The shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall not
be redeemable.
Section 10. Ranking. The Junior Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all
other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends
and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall
provide otherwise.
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<PAGE> 5
Section 11. Amendment. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preference or special rights of the Junior Preferred Stock so
as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of the
outstanding shares of Junior Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 12. Fractional Shares. Junior Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Junior Preferred Stock.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the President or any Vice President and the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation be, and they
hereby are, authorized and directed to prepare and file a Certificate of
Designations of Rights, Preferences and Privileges in accordance with the
foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law and to take such
actions as they may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent
of the foregoing resolution.
We further declare under penalty of perjury that the matters set forth in
the foregoing Certificate of Designations are true and correct of our own
knowledge.
Executed at Stamford, Connecticut on February 28, 2000.
/s/ Michael D. Fleisher
--------------------------------------
President
/s/ Cathy S. Satz
--------------------------------------
Secretary
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.3
GARTNERGROUP ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
Wednesday, February 9, 2000 05:38 PM
STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 9, 2000--Gartner Group, Inc. (NYSE:
IT), the world's leading business technology advisor, today announced that its
board of directors has unanimously approved the adoption of a Stockholder Rights
Plan designed to protect GartnerGroup stockholders in the event of an
unsolicited bid for control of the company.
In connection with this plan, preferred stock purchase rights will be
distributed as a dividend at the rate of one Class A Preferred Share Purchase
Right (a "Class A Right") on each outstanding share of the company's Class A
Common Stock and one Class B Preferred Share Purchase Right (a "Class B Right")
on each outstanding share of the company's Class B Common Stock. Each Right will
entitle the stockholders to buy one share of the company's Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock or one share of the company's Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $90.00 per share.
Michael D. Fleisher, president and chief executive officer of
GartnerGroup, stated, "This stockholder rights plan was designed to assure that
all GartnerGroup stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of
any proposed takeover of the company and to guard against partial tender offers
and tactics to gain control of GartnerGroup without paying all stockholders the
fair value of their shares."
Details of the Plan
The Rights will become exercisable on the eleventh day after a person or
group announces the acquisition of (i) 20 percent or more of the company's Class
A Common Stock; (ii) 20 percent or more of the company's Class B Common Stock;
(iii) 15 percent or more of the aggregate of the Class A Common Stock and the
Class B Common Stock (each item above is considered a "Threshold Amount"); or
(iv) announces commencement of a tender offer, the consummation of which would
result in ownership by the person or group of a Threshold Amount. Certain
exceptions will apply to existing institutional investors currently holding
passive investment positions in excess of the Threshold Amounts.
If prior to redemption of the Rights, a person or group acquires a
Threshold Amount, each Right owned by stockholders (other than the proposed
acquirer) will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's then-current
exercise price, that number of shares of Class A
<PAGE> 2
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock of the company (or as determined by the
board, cash, other property or other securities) having a market value at that
time equal to twice the Right's exercise price. For example, if the stock is
trading at a price of $30.00 per share, the Right will enable the holder to
purchase $180.00 of stock (or 6 shares) for the $90.00 exercise price.
Alternatively, the board of directors may elect to exchange outstanding Rights
held by persons other than the proposed acquirer for Common Stock.
All GartnerGroup stockholders of record on February 25, 2000, will receive
the dividend distribution of one Class A Right and one Class B Right on each
outstanding share of GartnerGroup's Class A Common Stock or Class B Common
Stock, respectively. All GartnerGroup Class A Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock issued after February 25, 2000, will have Rights attached. The Rights will
expire on February 25, 2010.
Further details of the Rights are contained in a letter that will be
mailed to all of GartnerGroup's stockholders and will be posted on the company's
Web site at www.gartnerweb.com/investor.
CONTACT: Gartner Group, Inc.
Jennifer L. Schlueter
Vice President, Investor Relations
203.316.6537
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