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EXHIBIT 1
PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
AND
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, INC.,
AS RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 5, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section 1. Certain Definitions.............................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................................................5
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.................................................................6
(a) Distribution Date; Rights Certificates..........................................................6
(b) Common Stock Certificates; Summary of Rights....................................................6
(c) Legend..........................................................................................6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.....................................................................7
(a) Form; Date......................................................................................7
(b) Acquiring Person Legend.........................................................................8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration...............................................................8
(a) Signatures......................................................................................8
(b) Registration and Transfer.......................................................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates...................................................9
(a) Procedure.......................................................................................9
(b) Issuance of New Rights Certificates.............................................................9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...................................9
(a) Exercise........................................................................................9
(b) Purchase Price.................................................................................10
(c) Rights Agent Actions...........................................................................10
(d) Partial Exercise...............................................................................11
(e) Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights.......................................................11
(f) Surrender of Rights Certificates; Identity of Beneficial Owner.................................11
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates............................................11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..................................................12
(a) Reservation of Capital Stock...................................................................12
(b) Listing........................................................................................12
(c) Registration under the Act.....................................................................12
(d) Covenant Regarding Capital Stock...............................................................12
(e) Transfer Taxes and Charges.....................................................................13
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date....................................................................13
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Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights....................13
(a) Certain Adjustments............................................................................13
(b) Purchase Price Adjustment - Capital Stock......................................................16
(c) Purchase Price Adjustment - Cash, Assets, etc..................................................17
(d) Current Market Price...........................................................................17
(e) Purchase Price Adjustment Threshold............................................................18
(f) Equivalent Adjustments.........................................................................19
(g) Post-Adjustment Rights Issuances...............................................................19
(h) Preferred Stock Anti-Dilution..................................................................19
(i) Adjustment of Number of Rights.................................................................19
(j) Rights Certificates............................................................................20
(k) Adjustment Below Par Value.....................................................................20
(l) Adjustment Effective as of Future Date; Exercise...............................................20
(m) Tax Adjustments................................................................................20
(n) Restriction on Certain Transactions............................................................21
(o) Restriction Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights.........................................21
(p) Common Stock Adjustments.......................................................................21
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.....................................21
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power...........................22
(a) Flip-over Event................................................................................22
(b) Principal Party................................................................................23
(c) Supplemental Agreement.........................................................................23
(d) Exceptions.....................................................................................24
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................................................24
(a) Fractional Rights..............................................................................24
(b) Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock...........................................................25
(c) Fractional Shares of Common Stock..............................................................25
(d) Waiver of Fractional Rights and Shares.........................................................25
Section 15. Rights of Action...............................................................................25
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders....................................................................26
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.............................................26
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................27
(a) Compensation...................................................................................27
(b) Reliance.......................................................................................27
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................27
(a) Successor......................................................................................27
(b) Prior Countersignatures........................................................................27
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.........................................................................28
(a) Legal Counsel..................................................................................28
(b) Certification by the Company...................................................................28
(c) Liability for Gross Negligence, etc............................................................28
(d) Statements of Fact or Recitals.................................................................28
(e) Agreement; Adjustments.........................................................................28
(f) Further Assurances.............................................................................28
(g) Instructions...................................................................................29
(h) Dealing in Rights..............................................................................29
(i) Agents; Reasonable Care........................................................................29
(j) Expenses; Repayment Assurances.................................................................29
(k) Exercise of Rights; Consultation with Company..................................................29
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.........................................................................29
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................................................30
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.....................................................................30
(a) Redemption.....................................................................................30
(b) Effect of Redemption; Procedure................................................................31
Section 24. Exchange.......................................................................................31
(a) Right to Exchange..............................................................................31
(b) Effect of Exchange; Procedure..................................................................31
(c) Common Stock Equivalents.......................................................................32
(d) Insufficient Common Stock......................................................................32
(e) Fractional Shares..............................................................................32
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................32
(a) Preferred Stock Transactions, etc..............................................................32
(b) Other Transactions.............................................................................33
Section 26. Notices........................................................................................33
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.....................................................................34
Section 28. Successors.....................................................................................34
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc......................................34
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Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement.....................................................................34
Section 31. Severability...................................................................................35
Section 32. Governing Law..................................................................................35
Section 33. Counterparts...................................................................................35
Section 34. Descriptive Headings...........................................................................35
Exhibit A Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Preferred Stock
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Letter to Stockholders
Exhibit D Form of Press Release
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 5, 2000, between PARALLEL
PETROLEUM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and COMPUTERSHARE
TRUST COMPANY, INC., a Colorado corporation, as rights agent (the "Rights
Agent").
RECITAL
On October 5, 2000 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board
of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of
one Right for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company
outstanding at the close of business on October 16, 2000 (the "Record Date"),
and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may hereafter be
adjusted as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock of the Company
issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the
Company's treasury) and the Distribution Date, each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form
of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit
A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the
"Rights");
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set
forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company,
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) 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, or (iv) any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a
reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the
repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company, unless and until such
Person shall purchase or otherwise become (as a result of actions taken by such
Person or its Affiliates or Associates) the Beneficial Owner of additional
shares of Common Stock constituting 1% or more of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Board of Directors of
the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an
Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph, has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because
(A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Common
Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person, or (B)
such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock
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 (ii) within ten Business Days of being requested by
the Company to advise it regarding the same, such Person certifies to the
Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 14.99%
inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together
with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not acquire
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additional shares of Common Stock and within ten Business Days of being
requested by the Company to do so disposes of the portion of such Common Stock
in excess of 14.99%, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have
become an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement; provided,
however, that if the Person requested to so certify fails to do so within ten
Business Days of the Company's request or such Person fails to dispose of such
Common Stock in excess of 14.99% within ten Business Days of the Company's
request, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after
such ten Business Day period.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and in effect from time to time.
(c) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments)
(d) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(e) "Agreement" shall mean this Rights Agreement as originally
executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended pursuant to
the applicable provisions hereof.
(f) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights,
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not,
for purposes of this paragraph (i), be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until
such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (B)
securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from
and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, which Rights were acquired by
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) (Issuance of Rights Certificates -
Distribution Date; Rights Certificates) or Section 22 (Issuance of New Rights
Certificates) (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) (Adjustment
of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Adjustment of
Number of Rights) in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any
Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule
13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in
writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii)
as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security
if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of
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the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also
then reportable by such Person on a Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are "beneficially owned," directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with
which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as
described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (f)) or
disposing of any voting securities of the Company;
provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (f) shall cause a Person
engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner"
of or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
expiration of forty (40) calendar days after the date of such acquisition.
(g) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(h) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(i) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., New York, New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York, New York time, on
the next succeeding Business Day.
(j) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of
such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.
(k) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(l) "Company" shall mean the Person named as the "Company" in
the first paragraph of this Agreement until a successor corporation shall have
become such, or until a Principal Party shall assume, and thereafter be liable
for, all obligations and duties of the Company hereunder, pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor corporation or Principal Party.
(m) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights - Current Market Price).
(n) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(o) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) (Issuance of Rights Certificates - Distribution Date; Rights
Certificates).
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(p) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(b) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares
or Number of Rights - Purchase Price Adjustment - Capital Stock).
(q) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(r) "Exchange Number" shall mean one-half of the number of
shares of Common Stock, one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, or shares
or other units of other property for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the time of the action of the Board to exchange the Rights.
(s) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights -
Exercise).
(t) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business
on October 5, 2010.
(u) "Flip-in Event" shall mean any event described in Section
11(a)(ii) (A) or (B) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(v) "Flip-in Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(w) "Flip-over Event" shall mean any event described in
clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or
Transfer of Assets or Earning Power - Flip-over Event).
(x) "Original Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1(f)(i) (Certain Definitions).
(y) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(z) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, par value $0.10, of the Company, and, to the extent that there is not a
sufficient number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock authorized to permit the
full exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock, par value
$0.10, of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially
similar to the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock.
(aa) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power - Principal Party).
(bb) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) (Form of Rights Certificates - Form; Date).
(cc) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Recital at the beginning of the Agreement.
(dd) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) (Redemption and Termination - Redemption).
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(ee) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) (Redemption and Termination - Redemption).
(ff) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recital
at the beginning of the Agreement.
(gg) "Rights Agent" shall mean the Person named as the "Rights
Agent" in the first paragraph of this Agreement until a successor Rights Agent
shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and
thereafter "Rights Agent" shall mean such successor Rights Agent. If at any time
there is more than one Person appointed by the Company as Rights Agent pursuant
to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, "Rights Agent" shall mean and
include each such Person.
(hh) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) (Issuance of Rights Certificates - Distribution Date; Rights
Certificates).
(ii) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in the Recital at the beginning of the Agreement.
(jj) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(kk) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under
the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person
has become such.
(ll) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of
equity securities or majority of the equity interest is beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(mm) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments).
(nn) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights - Current Market Price).
(oo) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-in Event or any
Flip-over Event.
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.
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Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) Distribution Date; Rights Certificates. Until the earlier
of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Stock
Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date
occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date), or
(ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the
Board shall determine prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the
Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company, except pursuant to
the provision of Section 23 (Redemption and Termination)). As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights
certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Rights
Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held,
subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section
11(p) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights - Common Stock Adjustments) 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) (Fractional Rights and Fractional
Shares - Fractional Rights)) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole
numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional
Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) Common Stock Certificates; Summary of Rights. With respect
to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until
the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented
by such certificates will be evidenced by such certificates alone and the
registered holders of such Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of
the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common
Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock. On the
Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy
of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the close of
business of the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company.
(c) Legend. Rights shall be issued in respect of all
certificates for shares of Common Stock which are issued (whether originally
issued or from the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the
earliest of the (i) Distribution Date, (ii) the Expiration Date, or (iii) the
Redemption Date, or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 (Issuance
of New Rights Certificates) after the Distribution
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Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed
to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement dated
as of October 5, 2000, by and between Parallel Petroleum
Corporation (the "Company") and Computershare Trust Company,
Inc., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy
of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on
the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of
a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances set
forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by,
any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf
of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null
and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earliest of (i) the Distribution Date, (ii) the Expiration Date, and (iii) the
Redemption Date, (x) the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, (y) the
registered holders of such Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of
the associated Rights, and (z) the transfer of any of such certificates shall
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common
Stock. In the event that the Company purchases, or acquires any shares of Common
Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any rights
associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired
so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with
shares of Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) Form; Date. The Rights Certificates (and the forms of
election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and may
have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed or any securities association on whose
interdealer quotation system the Rights may be from time to time authorized for
quotation, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
(Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights)
and Section 22 (Issuance of New Rights Certificates), the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set
forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandth of a share is referred
to herein as the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities
purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall
be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
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(b) Acquiring Person Legend. Any Rights Certificate issued
pursuant to Section 3(a) (Issuance of Rights Certificates - Distribution Date;
Rights Certificates) or Section 22 (Issuance of New Rights Certificates) 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 is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary
purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights) and any
Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 (Transfer, Split Up, Combination
and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates), Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights) or Section 22 (Issuance of New Rights Certificates)
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 dated as of October 5, 2000, by and
between Parallel Petroleum Corporation and Computershare Trust Company,
Inc., as Rights Agent). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the
Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances
specified in Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights)
of such Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) Signatures. The Rights Certificates shall be executed on
behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice
President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested to by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the
Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid
for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Registration and Transfer. Following the Distribution
Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office or
offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates
upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights
Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of
the respective holders of the Rights
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<PAGE> 14
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) Procedure. Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) (Form
of Rights Certificates - Acquiring Person Legend), Section 7(e) (Exercise of
Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring
Person's Rights) and Section 14 (Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares), at
any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior
to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another
Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase
a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon, the
Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Upon receipt by the
Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of
loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to
them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable
expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and
cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will execute
and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Exercise. Subject to Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights;
Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's
Rights), the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein, including, without
limitation, the restrictions on exercisability set forth in Section 9(c)
(Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock - Registration under the Act),
Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments), Section 23(a) (Redemption and
Termination - Redemption), and Section 24(b) (Exchange - Effect of Exchange;
Procedure)) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
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<PAGE> 15
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercisable and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Final Expiration Date, (ii)
the Redemption Date, or (iii) the expiration of the Rights pursuant to Section
13(d) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power -
Exceptions) (the earliest of (i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date"). The payment of the Purchase Price and the applicable
transfer tax, if any (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights - Certain Adjustments)), may be made (x) in cash, (y) by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (z) by
delivery of a certificate or certificates (with appropriate stock powers
executed in blank attached thereto) evidencing a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the then Purchase Price divided by the closing price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Current Market Price)) per share of Common
Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of such exercise. In the
event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common
Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such
other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by
the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to
require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that upon any exercise of
Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred
Stock would be issued.
(b) Purchase Price. The Purchase Price for each one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right
shall initially be $26.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights) and Section 13(a) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or
Transfer of Assets or Earning Power - Flip-over Event) and shall be payable in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 7.
(c) Rights Agent Actions. Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate
representing exercisable Rights and the compliance by the holder of such Rights
Certificate with paragraph (a) of this Section 7, the Rights Agent shall,
subject to Section 20(k) (Duties of Rights Agent - Exercise of Rights;
Consultation with Company), thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any
transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the
Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and
the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all
such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share
of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the
transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the
depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company
the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14 (Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares), (iii)
after receipt thereof, deliver such certificates or depositary receipts to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after
receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
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<PAGE> 16
(d) Partial Exercise. In case the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a
new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the
order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of
Section 14 (Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares).
(e) Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence
of a Flip-in 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 such 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 the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) (Form of Rights Certificates - Acquiring Person Legend) are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates
or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or any of its respective Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Surrender of Rights Certificates; Identity of Beneficial
Owner. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i)
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be 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 the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
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.
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<PAGE> 17
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) Reservation of Capital Stock. The Company will use its
best efforts to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued
shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other
securities or out of its authorized and issued shares of Common Stock held in
its treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that, as
provided in this Agreement, including the rights of the Company under Section
11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of
Rights - Certain Adjustments) to otherwise fulfill its obligations, will be
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) Listing. So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be
listed on any national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on any
interdealer quotation system of any securities association, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange
or quoted on such system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) Registration under the Act. The Company will use its best
efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after
the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event on which the consideration to be
delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in
accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments), or as soon as is
required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a
registration statement on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) cause such registration
statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and
(iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus
at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety
(90) calendar days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence
of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and
file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition,
if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required
following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has
been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the
exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration
statement shall not have been declared effective.
(d) Covenant Regarding Capital Stock. The Company will take
all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall,
at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment
of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable.
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(e) Transfer Taxes and Charges. The Company will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and
of any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the
exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than,
that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of
one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any
such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of
surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that
no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
(or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or
other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated as of, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) Certain Adjustments.
(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after
the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide or split the
outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred
Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its
capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger
in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e)
(Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights -
Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights), the Purchase Price in effect
at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective
date of such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification, and
the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as
the case
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<PAGE> 19
may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so
that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be
entitled to receive, upon payment of the aggregate adjusted Purchase
Price then in effect necessary to exercise a Right in full, the
aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital
stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock
(or other capital stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and
been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
split, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would
require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section
11(a)(ii) the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be
in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) In the event:
(A) (1) any Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, at any time
after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly,
shall merge into the Company or otherwise combine with the
Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or combination and the Common Stock
of the Company shall remain outstanding and unchanged, or (2)
subject to Section 23 (Redemption and Termination), any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan), alone or together with its Affiliates and
Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a
Flip-over Event, or is an acquisition of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all
outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms
determined by the Board of Directors, prior to the public
announcement of such tender offer or exchange offer, after
receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms
selected by the Board of Directors, to be (a) at a price which
is fair to the stockholders of the Company (taking into
account all factors which the Board of Directors deem relevant
including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably
be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an
orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b)
otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, other than such Acquiring Person, its Affiliates
and its Associates; or
(B) during such time as there is an
Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of
securities (including any reverse stock split), or
recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or
any other transaction or series of transactions involving the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than a transaction
or transactions to which the provisions of Section 13(a)
(Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power - Flip-over Event) apply (whether or not with or
into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person) which has the
effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1%
the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class
of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person,
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<PAGE> 20
then, promptly following the occurrence of any such Flip-in Event
(whether described in Section 11(a)(ii)(A) or (B)), proper provision
shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights)) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
in lieu of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall
equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Flip-in Event, and (y) dividing that product (which,
following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the
"Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement)
by 50% of the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the
date of such first occurrence (such number of shares being referred to
as the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of
Common Stock that are authorized by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A)
determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable
upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the
Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to
each Right, subject to Section 7(e)(Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights),
make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in
the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the
Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock which the Board has deemed to have essentially the same
value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock (such shares of
preferred stock being referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4)
debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price),
where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon
the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Board; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have
made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) calendar days following the first occurrence of a
Flip-in Event (the date of such Flip-in Event being referred to herein
as the "Flip-in Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the
extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or
cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board shall
determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
shares of Common Stock or other equity securities could be authorized
for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30)
calendar day period set forth above may be extended to the extent
necessary, but not more than ninety (90) calendar days after the
Flip-in Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period,
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), that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek
any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate
form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and
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<PAGE> 21
to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as
a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the
Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common
Stock on the Flip-in Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock
Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock
on such date.
(iv) If the rules of the national securities
exchange, registered as such pursuant to Section 6 of the Exchange Act,
or of the national securities association, registered as such pursuant
to Section 15A of the Exchange Act, on which the Common Stock is
principally traded or quoted would prohibit such exchange or
association from listing or continuing to list, or from authorizing for
or continuing quotation and/or transaction reporting through an
inter-dealer quotation system, the Common Stock or other equity
securities of the Company if the Rights were to be exercised for shares
of Common Stock in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this Section
11(a) because such issuance would nullify, restrict or disparately
reduce the per share voting rights of holders of Common Stock, the
Company shall: (A) determine the Spread, and (B) with respect to each
Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares,
upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a
reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) equity securities of the Company,
including, without limitation, Common Stock Equivalents, other than
securities which would have the effect of nullifying, restricting or
disparately reducing the per share voting rights of holders of Common
Stock, (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the
Board based upon the advice of a recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board; provided, however, if the Company shall not have
made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) calendar days following the Flip-in Trigger Date,
then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for
exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, cash having an aggregate value equal to the Spread. To the
extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken
pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company
(x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights;
Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring
Person's Rights), that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the
Rights, but not longer than ninety (90) calendar days after the Flip-in
Trigger Date, in order 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)(iv), the value of the Common Stock shall be the Current
Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Flip-in Trigger Date
and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have
the same value as the Common Stock on such date.
(b) Purchase Price Adjustment - Capital Stock. In case the
Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants
to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase
(for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record
date) Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and
preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or
securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a
price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock
(or having a conversion
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<PAGE> 22
price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent
Preferred Stock) less than the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the
number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so
to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and
the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of
Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription
or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery
of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall
not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) Purchase Price Adjustment - Cash, Assets, etc. In case the
Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of Preferred
Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the
earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend
payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other
than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights Purchase Price Adjustment - Capital Stock)), the
Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price per
share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or
evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or
warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which
shall be such Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock. Such
adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) Current Market Price.
(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) (Adjustment of
Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Certain
Adjustments) the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date
shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such
Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to
such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for
the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the
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<PAGE> 23
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend
or distribution on such Common Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or
securities convertible into shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights),
or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common Stock and
the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for
such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall not have occurred prior
to the commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading
Day period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market
Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The
closing price for each Trading Day shall be the last sale price, regular way,
or, in case no such sale takes place on such Trading 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 shares
of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of Common
Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid
and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in
the Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is
making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date
as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day"
shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which
the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the
Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, Current Market
Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith
by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the
same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the Current Market
Price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided
above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a
manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the Current Market Price
per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal
to 1,000 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock
occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the Current Market
Price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the
Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, Current Market Price
per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the Current Market Price of one
one- thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be equal to the Current
Market Price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by 1,000.
(e) Purchase Price Adjustment Threshold. Anything herein to
the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be
required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at
least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided however, that any
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<PAGE> 24
adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made
shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
All calculations under this Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights) shall be made to the nearest cent or to the
nearest thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other share or one-millionth of
a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first
sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall
be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the
transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) Equivalent Adjustments. If as a result of an adjustment
made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments) or Section 13(a)
(Consolidation Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power - Flip-over
Event) the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Stock, thereafter the
number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the
Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g),
(h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14
with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other
shares.
(g) Post-Adjustment Rights Issuances. All Rights originally
issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price
hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price,
the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from
time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Preferred Stock Anti-Dilution. Unless the Company shall
have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) (Adjustment of Purchase
Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Adjustment of Number of
Rights), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 11(b) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Purchase Price Adjustment - Capital Stock)
and Section 11(c) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Purchase Price Adjustment - Cash, Assets, etc.), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one- millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one
one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) Adjustment of Number of Rights. The Company may elect on
or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number
of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the
Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one- thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each
Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-ten-thousandth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or
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<PAGE> 25
any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be
at least ten (10) calendar days later than the date of the public announcement.
If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of
Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as
practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates
on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14
(Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares) the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Rights Certificates. Irrespective of any adjustment or
change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price per one one- thousandth of a share and the number of one
one-thousandths of a share which were expressed in the initial Rights
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Adjustment Below Par Value. Before taking any action that
would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par or
stated value, if any, of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which is or may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) Adjustment Effective as of Future Date; Exercise. In any
case in which this Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights) shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase
Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company
may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder
of any Right exercised after such record date the number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the
Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of
the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate
instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares
(fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Tax Adjustments. Anything in this Section 11 (Adjustment
of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights) to the
contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions
in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by
this Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board
shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares
of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
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<PAGE> 26
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock
shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Restriction on Certain Transactions. The Company shall
not, at any time after the earlier of the Stock Acquisition Date or the
Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
(Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights -
Restriction Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights)), (ii) merge with or
into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which complies with Section 11(o)), (iii) enter into a statutory share exchange
or similar transaction with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), or (iv) sell or
transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or
a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating
more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o)), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such
consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange or similar transaction, or sale
there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, statutory
share exchange or similar transaction, or sale, the stockholders of the Person
who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of
Section 13(a) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power - Flip-over Event) shall have received a distribution of Rights previously
owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) Restriction Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights.
The Company covenants and agrees that, after the earlier of the Stock
Acquisition Date or the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by
Section 23 (Redemption and Termination) or Section 27 (Supplements and
Amendments) take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time
such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(p) Common Stock Adjustments. Anything in this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time
after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date
(i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common
Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the
Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such
event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights
associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase
Price; Number and Kind of Shares
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<PAGE> 27
or Number of Rights) and Section 13 (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer
of Assets or Earning Power) the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate
setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for
such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer
agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate,
and (c) mail or cause the Rights Agent to mail a brief summary thereof to each
holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each
holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with
Section 26 (Notices). The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on
any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) Flip-over Event. In the event that, following the Stock
Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate
with, or merge with and into, or enter into a statutory stock exchange or
similar transaction with, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)(Adjustment of
Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Restriction
Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights)), and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or statutory
share exchange or similar transaction, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)) shall
consolidate with, or merge with or into, or enter into a statutory stock
exchange or similar transaction with, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or statutory
share exchange or similar transaction and, in connection with such
consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction, all or
part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other
property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating
more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o)), then, and in each such case (except as may be
contemplated by Section 13(d) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power - Exceptions)), (i) proper provision shall be made so
that: each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) (Exercise of
Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring
Person's Rights) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party, not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other
adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (A) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the number of one one- thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Flip-over Event (or, if a Flip-in Event has occurred prior to
the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event, multiplying the number of such one
one-thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such first occurrence), and (B) dividing that product
(which, following the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event, shall be referred
to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock of
such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Flip-over Event; (ii)
such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue
of such Flip-over Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant
to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of
Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of
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<PAGE> 28
Shares or Number of Rights) shall apply only to such Principal Party following
the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take
such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its
shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights;
and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price;
Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments) hereof
shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Flip-over Event.
(b) Principal Party. "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in
clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a)
(Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power -
Flip-over Event), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into
which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such
consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar
transaction, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the
other party to such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange
or similar transaction, and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in
clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) (Consolidation,
Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power - Flip-over
Event), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of
the assets, cash flow or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the total outstanding Common Stock having the greatest aggregate
market value.
(c) Supplemental Agreement. The Company shall not consummate a
Flip-over Event unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power) and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have
executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing
for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Flip-over Event,
the Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under
the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date and take all such other action as may be necessary to
enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the registration
or qualification of such securities under all
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<PAGE> 29
requisite securities laws or jurisdictions of the various states and
the listing of such securities on such exchange and trading markets as
may be necessary or appropriate; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on
Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of
Assets or Earning Power) shall similarly apply to successive consolidations,
mergers or statutory share exchanges or similar transactions or sales or other
transfers. In the event that a Flip-over Event shall occur at any time after the
occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been
exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section
13(a) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power -
Flip-over Event).
(d) Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, Section 13 (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power) shall not be applicable to a transaction described in
subparagraphs (x) and (y) of Section 13(a) (Consolidation, Merger or Sale or
Transfer of Assets or Earning Power - Flip-over Event) if (i) such transaction
is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock which complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(A)
(Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights -
Certain Adjustments) (or a wholly-owned subsidiary of any such Person or
Persons), (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered in such transaction
is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to all holders of
shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender or
exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered in such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid to all holders of
shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender offer
or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by
this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) Fractional Rights. The Company shall not be required to
issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in
Section 11(p) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights - Common Stock Adjustments), or to distribute Rights Certificates
which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall
be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to
which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For
purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall
be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The
closing price of the Rights for any Trading Day shall be the last sale price,
regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such Trading Day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system
with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
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prices in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or such other system then in
use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board. If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.
(b) Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock. The Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock which may at the option of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock).
Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock 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,
however, 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 Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of
one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Current Market Price) for the Trading Day immediately prior
to the date of such exercise.
(c) Fractional Shares of Common Stock. Following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of
fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders
of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
(1) share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current
market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one
share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (Adjustment of
Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Current Market
Price) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) Waiver of Fractional Rights and Shares. 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 upon exercise of a Right,
except as permitted by this Section 14 (Fractional Rights and Fractional
Shares).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of 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 Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in 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
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evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights
Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) (Transfer, Split Up, Combination
and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates - Procedure) and Section 7(f) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights - Surrender of Rights Certificates; Identity of
Beneficial Owner), the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock
certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all
purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to
the last sentence of Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price;
Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights), shall be
required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
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 the holder of the number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a 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
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25 (Notice of Certain Events)), 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) Compensation. The Company shall pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time
to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees
and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) Reliance. The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall
incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to
be taken by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in
reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20 (Duties of Rights Agent).
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Successor. Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or
any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 21 (Change of Rights Agent). In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement,
any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered,
any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor
Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case
at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned,
any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in
the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) Prior Countersignatures. In case at any time the name of
the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent
may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign
such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and
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<PAGE> 33
in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) Legal Counsel. The Rights Agent may consult with legal
counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent as to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Certification by the Company. Whenever in the performance
of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or
desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity
of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer 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) Liability for Gross Negligence, etc. The Rights Agent
shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct.
(d) Statements of Fact or Recitals. The Rights Agent shall not
be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals
contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates or be required to
verify the same (except as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates),
but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made
by the Company only.
(e) Agreement; Adjustments. The Rights Agent shall not be
under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the
execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate
(except its countersignature); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11 (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and
Kind of Shares or Number of Rights) or Section 13 (Consolidation, Merger or Sale
or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power) or responsible for the manner, method or
amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that
would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will,
when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) Further Assurances. The Company will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments
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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) Instructions. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and
directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company and to apply
to such persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it
shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the instructions of any such person.
(h) Dealing in Rights. The Rights Agent and any stockholder,
director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any
of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily
interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or
contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely
as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall
preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or
for any other legal entity.
(i) Agents; Reasonable Care. The Rights Agent may execute and
exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty
hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights
Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or
misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company
resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however,
reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) Expenses; Repayment Assurances. No provision of this
Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties
hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds
for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) Exercise of Rights; Consultation with Company. 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 of
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) calendar days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon
thirty (30) calendar days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the
Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail
to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) calendar days after
giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such
resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by
the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Rights
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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 (a) a corporation 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 stock
transfer or corporate trust powers, is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authority and has at the time of its appointment as Rights
Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate
of a corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment,
the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties
and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21 (Change of Rights
Agent), or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or
property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities hereafter issued by the Company, in either
case outstanding as of the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material, adverse tax consequences
to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued,
and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) Redemption. The Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem (the date of such redemption being referred to herein as
the "Redemption Date") all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights
at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights by the
Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board in its sole discretion, may establish. The Company may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based
on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or
any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by Board.
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(b) Effect of Redemption; Procedure. Immediately upon the
action of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the
Redemption Date, the Company shall (i) give notice of such redemption to the
Rights Agent, (ii) give public notice of such redemption; provided, however,
that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the
validity of such redemption, and (iii) mail notice of such redemption to the
holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date,
on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Amounts
payable shall be rounded down to the nearest $0.01.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) Right to Exchange. The Company may, at its option, at any
time and from time to time after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than
Rights which have become void as provided in Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights;
Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's
Rights)) for the Exchange Number of shares of Common Stock, shares or units of
Preferred Stock which the Board has determined to be a Common Stock Equivalent,
units of other property or any combination thereof as determined by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be empowered to effect such
exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary or
any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to any such plan),
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
The exchange of the Rights by the Company may be made effective at such time, on
such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may
establish.
(b) Effect of Exchange; Procedure. Immediately upon the action
of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of
this Section 24, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock, Common Stock
Equivalents or units of other property equal to the number of such Rights held
by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Number. Promptly after the action of
the Company ordering the exchange of the Rights, the Company shall (i) file
evidence of such action with the Rights Agent, (ii) give public notice of such
exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange, and (iii) mail notice of
such exchange to 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 will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the
number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected
pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void
as provided in Section 7(e) (Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights - Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights)) held by each holder of
Rights.
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(c) Common Stock Equivalents. In any exchange pursuant to this
Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Common Stock Equivalents
for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one share of
Common Stock Equivalent for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately
adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the Common Stock
pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, so that the share of
Common Stock Equivalent delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall
have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) Insufficient Common Stock. In the event that the number of
shares of Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other
than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit any exchange of
Rights in accordance with this Section 24, the Company may, at its option, take
all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common
Stock for issuance upon such exchange.
(e) Fractional Shares. Upon the action of the Company ordering
the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24, the
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares. In lieu of such fractional
shares, the Company may pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
with regard to which such fractional shares would otherwise be issuable an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one
share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 24, the current market value
of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (Adjustment of Purchase Price;
Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Current Market Price)) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section
24, and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the
same current market value as the Common Stock on such date.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) Preferred Stock Transactions, etc. In case the Company
shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company);
(ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe
for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock
of any class or any other securities, rights or options; (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock); (iv) to effect
any consolidation with, merger into or with, or statutory share exchange or
similar transaction with, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) (Adjustment of
Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights - Restriction
against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights)), or to effect any sale or other
transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or
other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more
than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o)); (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the shares
of Common Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination
or consolidation of the shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the
Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent
feasible and in accordance with Section 26 (Notices), a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes
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of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange or
similar transaction, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares
of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so
given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least
twenty (20) calendar days prior to the record date for determining holders of
the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of
any such other action, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the date of
the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) Other Transactions. In case any of the events set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii) (Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights - Certain Adjustments) shall occur, then, in any such case, (i)
the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26
(Notices), a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the
event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section
11(a)(ii), and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock
shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate,
other securities.
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 telecopier
(with receipt confirmed) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Parallel Petroleum Corporation
110 N. Marienfeld
Suite 465
Midland, Texas 79701
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Telecopier: (915) 684-3905
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 (Change of Rights Agent), any notice or
demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by telecopier (with receipt confirmed) or by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Company as follows:
Computershare Trust Company, Inc.
12039 West Alameda Parkway
Suite Z-2
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
Attention: Michelle Vigil
Telecopier: (303) 986-2444
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
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<PAGE> 39
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. For so long as the Rights are
redeemable, and subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the
Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement
or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock or, on and after the
Distribution Date, any holders of Rights Certificates. At any time when the
Rights are no longer redeemable and subject to the penultimate sentence of this
Section 27, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights
Certificates; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment may (i)
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates, or, prior
to the Distribution Date, the holders of the Common Stock (other than an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person); (ii) cause
this Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this
sentence; or (iii) cause the Rights again to become redeemable. Upon the
delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment shall be made which changes the Redemption Price, the
Final Expiration Date, the Purchase Price, or the number of one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock for which a right is exercisable; provided,
however, that at any time prior to (i) a Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) 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 any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is
first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding, the Board may amend this Agreement to increase
the Purchase Price or extend the Final Expiration Date. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.
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 shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board, in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
34
<PAGE> 40
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock)
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
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 determines
in its good faith judgment that serving 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 (Redemption and Termination) shall be
reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth
Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed
to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one
and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
*****
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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.
Attest: PARALLEL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas W. Ortloff By: /s/ Larry C. Oldham
----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Thomas W. Ortloff, Secretary Larry C. Oldham,
President
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, INC.,
AS RIGHT AGENTS
By: /s/ Kellie Gwinn By: /s/ Laura Sisneros
----------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Kellie Gwinn Name: Laura Sisneros
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
36
<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
OF
PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, the undersigned authorized officer of Parallel Petroleum Corporation
(the "Corporation"), on behalf of the Corporation, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors
(the "Board") by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as
amended, and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Board of
Directors on October 5, 2000, adopted the following resolutions creating a
series of fifty thousand shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.10 per share,
designated as Series A Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that, pursuant to the authority vested in the Board in
accordance with the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
the Board and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, does hereby
create, authorize and provide for the issuance upon the exercise of the
Corporation's Preferred Stock Purchase Rights, of a series of Preferred Stock of
the Corporation, and does hereby fix and state that the designations, amounts,
powers, preferences and relative and other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:
Series A Preferred Stock
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as Series A Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting
such series shall be 50,000, which number may be increased or decreased (but not
below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by action
of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of
any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 1st day of July, October,
January and April, in each year commencing January 1, 2001 (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
<PAGE> 43
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $0.01 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount
of all cash dividends, and one thousand (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 the common stock of the Corporation, par
value $0.01 per share ("the Common Stock"), or a subdivision of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the
Common Stock, since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date,
or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after October 5, 2000 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare any dividend on 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 amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall
be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution
on the Series A 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); provided that, in the event no
dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.01 per share on the Series A
Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A
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 Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to
accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at
the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than sixty
(60) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to one thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after the Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
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subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of
votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law,
the holders of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to
vote as a separate class on any matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Preferred
Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends
thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period
(herein called a "default period") which shall extend until such time when all
accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for
the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock
then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment.
During each default period, all holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a
class, shall have the right to elect two (2) Directors to the Board of Directors
of the Corporation.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special
meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any
annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, and thereafter at annual
meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, provided that such voting right
shall not be exercised unless the holders of one-third (1/3) in number of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy.
The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the
exercise by the holders of Series A Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any
meeting at which the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall exercise such
voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the
right, voting as a class, to elect Directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in
the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two (2) Directors or, if such
right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two (2) Directors. If the
number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the
required number, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have the
right to make such increase in the number of Directors constituting the whole
Board of Directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the
required number. After the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have
exercised their right to elect Directors in any default period and during the
continuance of such period, the number of Directors constituting the whole Board
of Directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders
of Series A Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any
equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred
Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Series A Preferred Stock
shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right
to elect Directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or
stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the
total number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding may request, the
calling of a special meeting of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, which
meeting shall thereupon be called by the President, a Vice President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting
at which holders of Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to
this subparagraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each
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<PAGE> 45
holder of record of Series A Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to
him at his last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.
Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than twenty (20) days and
not later than sixty (60) days after such order or request or in default of the
calling of such meeting within sixty (60) days after such order or request, such
meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders
owning in the aggregate not less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.Notwithstanding the provisions of
this subparagraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the
period within sixty (60) days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next
annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common
Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors until the holders
of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have exercised their right to elect two
(2) Directors voting as a class, after the exercise of which right (x) the
Directors so elected by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such
holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in
the Board of Directors may (except as provided in subparagraph (C)(ii) of this
Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors
theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the
Director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this paragraph (C)
to Directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include
Directors elected by such Directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y)
of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default
period, (x) the right of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock as a class
to elect Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate and (z) the
number of Directors constituting the whole Board of Directors shall be such
number as may be provided for in the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation
or bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of
subparagraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to
change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors
effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may
be filled as provided in the Corporation's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Preferred
Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be
required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common
Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2
are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends 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 Series A Preferred Stock;
A-4
<PAGE> 46
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other
distributions on, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
junior 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 Series A Preferred Stock,
provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or 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 Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase
offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of
Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of
Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other
relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall
determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the
respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired 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.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution
or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders
of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior
thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received
$250 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the
"Series A Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of
the Series A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the
"Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A
Liquidation Preference by (ii) one thousand (1,000) (as appropriately adjusted
as set forth in paragraph (C) of this Section to reflect such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock)
(such number in clause (ii) immediately above being referred to as the
"Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of
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<PAGE> 47
Series A Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive
their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed
in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to one (1) with respect to such Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient
assets available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation
Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred
stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, then
such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event,
however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in
full of the Common Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed
ratably to the holders of Common Stock.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on 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 Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event
shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock,
securities, cash or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to one thousand (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. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (ii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
Section 8. Redemption. The outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock may be redeemed at the option of the Board of Directors as a whole, but
not in part, at any time, or from to time to time, at a cash price per share
equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of (i) the product of the Adjustment
Number times the Average Market Value (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
the Common Stock, plus (ii) all dividends which on the redemption date have
accrued on the shares to be redeemed and have not been paid, or declared and a
sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, without interest. The "Average
Market Value" is the average of the closing sale prices of the Common Stock
during the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding the date before the
redemption date on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange Listed Stocks,
or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock
Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal
United States securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not
listed on any such exchange, the average of the closing sale prices with respect
to a share of
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<PAGE> 48
Common Stock during such thirty (30) day period, as quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any
system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market
value of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series A 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.
Section 10. Amendment. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, or by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation, as amended, shall not be further amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority or more of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. At the Corporation's sole discretion,
Series A 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 Series A Preferred Stock.
*****
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<PAGE> 49
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate as of October 5, 2000.
PARALLEL PETROLEUM
CORPORATION
By:
-----------------------------------------
Larry C. Oldham,
President
A-8
<PAGE> 50
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE]
Certificate No. R ____ ______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF OCTOBER 5, 2010, OR SUCH DATE AS THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE REDEEMED BY PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION (THE
"CORPORATION"). THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 5, 2000, BY AND BETWEEN
THE CORPORATION AND COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, INC., AS RIGHTS AGENT (THE
"RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY
AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN
ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).
ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) (EXERCISE OF
RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHTS - TERMINATION OF ACQUIRING
PERSON'S RIGHTS) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.](1)
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
This certifies that ______________________________________, or its, his
or her 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 October 5, 2000
(the "Rights Agreement"), between Parallel Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Corporation"), and Computershare Trust Company, Inc., a
Colorado corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Corporation at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York, New York time) on October
5, 2010 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a
fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred
Stock") of the Corporation, at a purchase price of $____ per one one-thousandth
(1/1,000) of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of
this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise
thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number
and Purchase Price as of _____________, ______, based on the Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date. The Corporation reserves
----------
(1)The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only
if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE> 51
the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term
is defined in the Rights Agreement) that upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be
issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate or
any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate who becomes a
transferee after such Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate becomes
such, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a
transferee of an Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such,
such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right
with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Flip-in Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,
including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive
upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the
number of whole Rights for which this Rights Certificate is not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Corporation at its option at a
redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of (a) the
Stock Acquisition Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) or (b)
the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and
(ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Stock, shares of the
Corporation's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, other property or any
combination thereof.
In addition, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for
shares of Common Stock, or shares of common stock equivalents of the Corporation
having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares. Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation authorizing any
such
B-2
<PAGE> 52
exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other
than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the
Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such
exchange.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Preferred
Stock, which may, at the election of the Corporation, be evidenced by depositary
receipts), but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof, as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred Stock
or of any other securities of the Corporation 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 Corporation or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders of the Corporation 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 of the
Corporation (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Corporation and its corporate seal.
Dated as of
---------------------
ATTEST: PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------- -------------------------------------
Secretary
Title:
------------------------------
Countersigned:
RIGHTS AGENT
By:
-----------------------------
Authorized Signature
B-3
<PAGE> 53
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _______________________________________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _______________________________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS OF TRANSFEREE)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ------------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [
] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
----------------------------- --------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-4
<PAGE> 54
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
To: PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _______________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Corporation or of any other person which may be issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be
issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or
other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security or
other identifying number
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(PLEASE PRINT NAME AND ADDRESS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
---------------- ----------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-5
<PAGE> 55
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being acquired or exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:
---------------- ----------------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-6
<PAGE> 56
[Letter to Stockholders] EXHIBIT C
October 16, 2000
Dear Parallel Petroleum Corporation Stockholder:
On October 5, 2000, your Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder Rights
Plan designed to prevent a potential acquiror from gaining control of the
Company without fairly compensating all of the Company's stockholders.
The Rights will initially trade with shares of the Company's Common Stock
and will have no impact on the way in which the Company's shares are traded.
There are no separate certificates or market for the Rights.
The Rights will not become exercisable and trade separately from the
Common Stock until the earlier of (1) ten business days after a public
announcement that a person has acquired 15% or more of the Common Stock of the
Company or (2) ten business days (or any later date determined by the Company's
Board of Directors) after a person makes a tender or exchange offer for 15% or
more of the Company's Common Stock.
Many other public companies have adopted similar plans, indicating
widespread agreement that such plans can help Directors deflect coercive and
inadequate offers.
A summary of the terms of the Rights is included with this letter.
Sincerely,
Larry C. Oldham,
President
<PAGE> 57
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On October 5, 2000, the Board of Directors of Parallel Petroleum
Corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend distribution of one Right for
each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value (the
"Common Stock"), to stockholders of record at the close of business on October
16, 2000. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par value
$0.10 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $26.00 per one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share, subject to adjustment. The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, Inc., as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock upon the earlier
of (i) ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired,
or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%)
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition
Date"), or (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as the Board of
Directors shall determine) following the commencement of a tender or exchange
offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning fifteen percent
(15%) or more of such outstanding shares of Common Stock. The date the Rights
separate is referred to as the "Distribution Date."
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after October 16,
2000 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference,
and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificates. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement,
the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be
issued.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
at the close of business on October 5, 2010, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates will represent the Rights. Except in connection with shares of
Common Stock issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options under any
employee plan or arrangements, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities hereafter issued by the Company, or as otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution
Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger
or other business combination with an Acquiring Person (or any associate or
affiliate thereof) and its Common Stock remains outstanding and unchanged, (ii)
any person shall acquire beneficial ownership of more than fifteen percent (15%)
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to (A) certain
consolidations or mergers involving the Company or sales or transfers of the
combined assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and
C-2
<PAGE> 58
its subsidiaries or (B) an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a
price and upon terms and conditions which the Board of Directors determines to
be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders), or (iii) there
occurs a reclassification of securities, a recapitalization of the Company or
any of certain business combinations or other transactions (other than certain
consolidations and mergers involving the Company and sales or transfers of the
combined assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries)
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has the effect of
increasing by more than one percent (1%) the proportionate share of any class of
the outstanding equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person (or any associate or affiliate
thereof), each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person and certain
related parties) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the
Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of
the events described in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person will be null and void. The events described in this paragraph
are referred to as "Flip-in Events."
For example, at a Purchase Price of $26.00 per Right, each Right not owned
by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties or transferees) following
an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to
purchase $52.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above)
for $26.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share market price of $5.20
at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 10
shares of Common Stock for $26.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company shall enter into a merger or other business combination transaction
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company is the
surviving corporation in a consolidation, merger or similar transaction pursuant
to which all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into
or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any
other property or (iii) more than 50% of the combined assets, cash flow or
earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries is sold or transferred (in
each case other than certain consolidations with, mergers with and into, or
sales of assets, cash flow or earning power by or to subsidiaries of the Company
as specified in the Rights Agreement), each holder of a Right (except Rights
which previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. The events described
in this paragraph are referred to as "Flip-over Events." Flip-in Events and
Flip-over Events are referred to collectively as "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, the number and kind of shares covered by each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time
to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights, options or warrants
to subscribe for Preferred Stock or securities convertible into Preferred Stock
at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness,
cash (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends), assets (other than dividends
payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to in (ii) immediately above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the
Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be
issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
C-3
<PAGE> 59
(1/1,000) of a share of Preferred Stock) and, in lieu thereof, the Company may
make an adjustment in cash based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on
the trading date immediately prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company
may, without payment of the Purchase Price by the holder, exchange the Rights
(other than Rights owned by such person or group, which will become void), in
whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one-half
(1/2) the number of shares of Common Stock (or in certain circumstances
Preferred Stock) for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the time
of the Company's decision to exchange the Rights (subject to adjustment).
At any time until the Stock Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in
cash, shares of Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right
of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of an acquiring company as set forth above or in the event that the
Rights are redeemed.
Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of
the Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company at any time during the period in which the
Rights are redeemable. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board only if such
amendment does not adversely affect the interest of holders of Rights (excluding
the interest of any Acquiring Person); provided, however, that no amendment may
cause the Rights again to become redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
on October 9, 2000. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Rights Agent. This summary description of the Rights does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
C-4
<PAGE> 60
EXHIBIT D
Parallel Petroleum Corporation (ticker: PLLL, exchange: NASDAQ) News Release
-5-Oct-2000
================================================================================
PARALLEL PETROLEUM ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL NATURAL GAS DISCOVERY;
ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AND AMENDS BYLAWS
Parallel Petroleum Corporation (Nasdaq NMS: PLLL) today announced the current
production rate of a natural gas discovery in the Yegua/Frio Gas Trend in
Jackson County, Texas. The Weaver-Dugger A No. 1, Jackson County, Texas, was
drilled to a total depth of 9,440 feet. The well was perforated in two intervals
from 9,310 to 9,321 feet and 9,323 to 9,326 feet in the Frio formation and is
currently flowing at a rate of 1,871 mcf of gas and 57 barrels of oil per day on
a 9.75/64-inch choke with flowing tubing pressure of 4,750 psi. Based on the
operator's current assessment, the production rate is expected to be increased
to 5,000 mcf per day plus condensate during the next 30 days. Four new prospects
have been identified on this project and are waiting on rigs. The Company owns a
27.63% working interest (20.72% net revenue interest) in the well. The operator,
privately held Allegro Investments, and industry partners own the remaining
interests.
In addition, the Company today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted
a Stockholder Rights Plan. The Plan is designed to protect the Company from
unfair or coercive takeover attempts and to prevent a potential acquiror from
gaining control of the Company without fairly compensating all of the Company's
stockholders.
The Plan creates a dividend of one right for each outstanding share of the
Company's Common Stock. The rights are represented by and traded with the
Company's Common Stock. There are no separate certificates or market for the
rights.
The rights do not become exercisable or trade separately from the Common Stock
unless one or both of the following conditions are met: a public announcement
that a person has acquired 15% or more of the Common Stock of the Company, or a
tender or exchange offer is made for 15% or more of the Common Stock of the
Company.
Should either of the aforementioned conditions be met and the rights become
exercisable, each right will entitle the holder thereof to buy 1/1,000th of a
share of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $26.00.
Each 1/1,000th of a share of the Series A Preferred Stock will essentially be
the economic equivalent of one share of Common Stock.
Under certain circumstances the rights entitle the holders to buy the Company's
stock at a 50% discount. In the event that (1) the Company is the surviving
corporation in a merger or other business combination with an entity that owns
15% or more of the Company's outstanding stock; (2) any person shall acquire
beneficial ownership of 15% of the Company's outstanding stock; or (3) there is
any type of recapitalization of the Company that results in an increase by more
than 1% the proportionate share of equity securities of the Company owned by a
person who owns 15% or more of the Company's outstanding stock, each right
holder will have the option to buy for the purchase price Common Stock of the
Company having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the right.
Under certain circumstances the rights entitle the holders to buy shares of the
acquiror's Common Stock at a 50% discount. In the event that, at any time after
a person has acquired 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock,
<PAGE> 61
(1) the Company enters into a merger or other business combination transaction
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (2) the Company is the
surviving corporation in a transaction in which all or part of the Common Stock
is exchanged for cash, property or securities of any other person; or (3) more
than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company is sold, each
right holder will have the option to buy for the purchase price stock of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the
right.
The rights may be redeemed by the Company for $0.001 per right at any time until
the first public announcement of the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 15%
of the Company's Common Stock.
The distribution of the rights will be made to stockholders of record as of
October 16, 2000. Stockholders of record will receive a separate mailing
describing the Plan and a copy of the Plan containing all the provisions of the
new rights will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company's Plan is similar to those adopted by many other companies.
Also on October 5, 2000, the Board of Directors adopted certain amendments to
the Company's Bylaws. These amendments modify, clarify and add certain
provisions regarding the advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals
before an annual meeting of stockholders, the calling of special meetings of
stockholders, stockholder written consents, and the procedures for nominating
directors.
Parallel Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company engaged in the
exploration for and the acquisition, development and production of oil and gas
using 3-D seismic technology.
In addition to historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements subject to various risks and uncertainties
that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by
the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect,"
"intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "present value," "future,"
"reserves" or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences could include, but are not limited
to, those relating to the Company's growth strategy, outstanding indebtedness,
dependence on weather conditions, seasonality, expansion and other activities of
competitors, prices of oil and gas, and the general condition of the economy and
its effect on the securities market. While the Company believes its
forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there are
factors that are difficult to predict and that are influenced by economic and
other conditions beyond the Company's control. Investors are directed to
consider such risks and other uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Parallel Petroleum Corporation
110 N. Marienfeld, Suite 465
Midland, TX 79701
915.684.3727
www.parallel-petro.com
Contact: Rhonda L. Keller
Manager Investor Relations
e-mail: [email protected]
MIDLAND, Texas, September 22, 2000
================================================================================
Parallel Petroleum Corporation - 110 North Marienfeld Suite 465 - Midland, Texas
79701 - phone 915.684.3727 - fax 915.684.3905
