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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North Carolina 56-0674867
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(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1373 Boggs Drive, Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
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Preferred Share Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X]
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [ ]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: Not applicable
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SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
Not applicable
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(Title of class)
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Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
The securities being registered are Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
(the "Rights"). On April 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Insteel Industries,
Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend
distribution of one right (each, a "Right") on each outstanding share of the
Company's Common Stock, to shareholders of record at the close of business on
May 17, 1999. One Right will also be distributed for each share of Common Stock
issued after May 17, 1999, until the Distribution Date (which is described in
the next paragraph). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from
the Company, upon the occurrence of a Distribution Date, a unit consisting of
one one-hundredths of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price (the "Purchase
Price") of $80.00 per Unit, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of
the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of April 27, 1999 (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights
Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 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 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following the public
announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would, if consummated,
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights) (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 May 17, 1999 will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding, even without such
notation, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and,
thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on April 26, 2009, subject to extension by the Board of
Directors, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to receive, at
the time specified in the Rights Agreement, (x) upon exercise and payment of the
Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or
other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the Purchase
Price or (y) at the discretion of the Board of Directors, upon exercise and
without payment of the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value
equal to the difference between the Purchase Price and the value of the
consideration which would be payable under clause (x). Notwithstanding any of
the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this
paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the
Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null
and void. Flip-In Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the
event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by
the Company as set forth below.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other
business combination in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii)
the Company is the surviving party in a merger, statutory share exchange or
other business combination and all or part of the Company's Common Stock is
exchanged for stock or other securities of another corporation, or (iii) 50% or
more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth
above) shall thereafter have the right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive,
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upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring corporation having a value equal to
two times the Purchase Price. The holders of a Right will continue to have the
Flip-Over Right whether or not such holder exercises or surrenders the Flip-In
Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding
paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
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 or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities 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 or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights
and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in
Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock
occurring, in each such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company
may exchange all or part of the Rights for shares of Common Stock at an exchange
ratio of one share per Right, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
dividend, stock split or similar transaction.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right, at any time until 10 business days
following the Stock Acquisition Date. After the redemption period has expired,
the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person
reduces his beneficial ownership to less than 20% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the
Company and there are no other Acquiring Persons. 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
$0.01 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common
stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Prior to the Distribution Date, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made when the Rights are not redeemable.
The Company has initially authorized and reserved 900,000 shares of
Preferred Stock for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. As of the date of this
registration statement, there were 8,447,226 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding and an additional 1,263,476 shares of Common Stock were reserved for
issuance under the Company's executive and director compensation plans.
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The Rights may be deemed to have certain antitakeover effects. The
Rights generally may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that
attempts to acquire the Company under circumstances not approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
The Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights Agent
specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes the Certificate of Amendment
creating the Preferred Stock, the Form of the Rights Certificate and the Summary
of Rights to Purchase Shares, is attached hereto as an exhibit and incorporated
herein by reference. The foregoing is qualified in its entirety by reference
thereto.
Item 2. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as a part of this registration
statement:
99.1 Rights Agreement dated as of April 27, 1999 between Insteel
Industries, Inc. and First Union National Bank, as Rights
Agent which includes the Form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit
A, the Form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock
as Exhibit B and the Form of Certificate of Amendment setting
forth the terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock as Exhibit C.
99.2 Press Release dated as of April 27, 1999 announcing the
adoption of the Rights Agreement.
99.3 Form of letter from the Board of Directors of Insteel
Industries, Inc. to shareholders.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: May 7, 1999
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By: /s/ H.O. Woltz III
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H.O. Woltz III
President
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EXHIBIT 99.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and between
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
and
First Union National Bank
as Rights Agent
Dated as of April 27, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
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<S> <C> <C>
1. Certain Definitions........................................................1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent................................................5
3. Issuance of Rights Certificates............................................5
4. Form of Rights Certificates................................................7
5. Countersignature and Registration..........................................8
6. Transfer, Splitup, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates..........9
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights..............9
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.......................11
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.............................12
10. Preferred Stock Record Date...............................................13
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights..........................................................14
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares................22
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power......22
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...................................24
15. Rights of Action..........................................................26
16. Agreement of Rights Holders...............................................26
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder........................27
18. Concerning the Rights Agent...............................................27
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.................28
20. Duties of Rights Agent....................................................28
21. Change of Rights Agent....................................................31
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.......................................31
23. Redemption and Termination................................................32
24. Exchange..................................................................33
25. Notice of Certain Events..................................................34
26. Notices...................................................................35
27. Supplements and Amendments................................................36
28. Successors................................................................36
29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.................36
30. Benefits of This Agreement................................................37
31. Severability..............................................................37
32. Governing Law.............................................................37
33. Counterparts..............................................................37
34. Descriptive Headings......................................................37
</TABLE>
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A -- Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit B -- Form of Summary of Rights
Exhibit C -- Form of Articles of Amendment
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 27, 1999 (the "Agreement"),
between Insteel Industries, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"),
and First Union National Bank (the "Rights Agent").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, on April 26, 1999 the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (each,
a A "Right" and, collectively, the A "Rights") for each share of Common Stock of
the Company outstanding at the close of business on May 17, 1999 (the A "Record
Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth (1/100)
of a share of Preferred Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, and further authorized and directed the issuance of one
Right with respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding
between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the
Expiration Date.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or
which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 20% 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
(iv) any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person
shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" as a result of the acquisition of
shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares
beneficially owned by such Person together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person; provided, however, that if a Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of
20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding by reason of the
Company's acquisition of shares of Common Stock, and thereafter becomes the
Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock, then such Person shall be
deemed an "Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section
1(a), no person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that such Person became the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
inadvertently and such Person divests, as promptly as practicable after receipt
of a written notice from the Company, a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock so that such Person is no longer the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
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(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended and as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of,
and shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights
(other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially
own," securities tendered pursuant to a tender 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;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule
13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in
writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii)
as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security
if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General
Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with
which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as
described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (d)) or
disposing of any voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that
nothing in this paragraph (d) shall cause a person engaged in business as an
underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially
own," any securities acquired through such person's participation in good faith
in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the
date of such acquisition.
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(e) "Agreement" shall mean this Rights Agreement.
(f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or United States federal holiday.
(g) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., Mount Airy, North Carolina time on such date; provided, however, that if
such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Mount Airy, North
Carolina time on the next succeeding Business Day.
(h) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, no par
value, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person
with the greatest aggregate voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interests having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.
(i) "Company" shall mean Insteel Industries, Inc., a
North Carolina corporation.
(j) "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(k) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(l) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(m) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof.
(n) "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(o) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended and as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(p) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24 hereof.
(q) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the
Final Expiration Date or (ii) the Redemption Date.
(r) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of
Business on April 26, 2009, unless extended by the Board of Directors of the
Company as provided in Section 27 hereof.
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(s) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership, company or other entity.
(t) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of the Company's
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, having the relative rights,
preferences and limitations set forth in the Articles of Amendment attached as
Exhibit C hereto, and, to the extent that there is not a sufficient number of
shares of Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights,
any other series of the Preferred Stock of the Company designated for such
purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(u) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(v) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(w) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(x) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 of this Agreement.
(y) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 23(a) hereof.
(z) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(aa) "Rights Agent" shall mean First Union National Bank
or any Person that succeeds or replaces it in accordance with the provisions of
Section 21 of this Agreement.
(bb) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof.
(cc) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(dd) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ff) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(gg) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
a public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange
Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become
such.
(hh) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any
Person, any firm, corporation, partnership, company or other entity of which an
amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least a majority of the
directors, managers, trustees or similar persons of such entity is beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such
Person.
(ii) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(jj) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(kk) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or any Section 13 Event.
2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall, prior to the Distribution Date, also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date and (ii) the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day after the date that a tender or exchange
offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Person 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 an Acquiring Person (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);
provided, however, that if a tender or exchange offer is terminated prior to the
occurrence of a Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as a
result of such tender
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or exchange offer. 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, a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a
"Rights Certificate"), 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(o) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, the
Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in
accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing
only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any
fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date,
the Company will send a copy of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, by first-class,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close
of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, until the earlier of the Distribution Date or
the Expiration Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the
Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates
representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of
Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of
Common Stock which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
certificates issued after the Record Date shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Insteel
Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and First Union National Bank (the
"Rights Agent") dated as of April 27, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"),
the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a
copy of which is on file at the principal office of the Company. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the
date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written
request therefor. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights
Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or
becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held
by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become
null and void.
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such Certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall
each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have
such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set
forth therein (such exercise price per one one-hundredths of a share, the
"Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section
3(a) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by any
Person known to be: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or of any Associate
or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or of any
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights
pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the
Acquiring Person or any Associate of Affiliate of an Acquiring Person to holders
of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement,
arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance
of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall when issued contain
(to the extent feasible in the circumstances) the following legend:
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<PAGE> 11
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf
of the Company by its President or any Vice President, either manually or by
facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, 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) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent
will keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated as the appropriate place
for surrender of such Rights Certificates or transfer, books for registration
and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show
the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates,
the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates
and the certificate number and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
6. Transfer, Splitup, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section
7(e) and Section 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration
Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling
the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a share
of
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<PAGE> 12
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 office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither
the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, splitup, combination or exchange
of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to
the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights
Certificate if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office 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-hundredths 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, at or prior to the Expiration Date.
(b) The Purchase Price for each one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $80.00
and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11
and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
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<PAGE> 13
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised,
of the Purchase Price per one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, 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-hundredths 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, in its sole
discretion, 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-hundredths 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 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same
to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon
the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of
the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof) may be made in cash or by certified bank check or money order payable to
the order of the Company. 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) hereof, the Company will
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other
property are available for distribution by or on behalf of the Rights Agent, if
and when appropriate. In the case of an exercise of the Rights by a holder
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii), the Rights Agent shall return such Rights
Certificate to the registered holder thereof after imprinting, stamping or
otherwise indicating thereon that the rights represented by such Rights
Certificate no longer include the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii) of the
Rights Agreement and, if less than all the Rights represented by such Rights
Certificate were so exercised, the Rights Agent shall indicate on the Rights
Certificate the number of Rights represented thereby which continue to include
the rights provided by Section 11(a)(ii).
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the
order of, the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such
name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of
Section 14 hereof, or the Rights Agent shall place an appropriate notation on
the Rights Certificate with respect to those Rights exercised.
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<PAGE> 14
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any
Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who becomes a transferee
after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or from any Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or
in any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person has
any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined (whether before or after such transfer) is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the
avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further
action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the
provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but
shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or any other Person
as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an
Acquiring Person or any Affiliate, Associate or transferee of an Acquiring
Person hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, splitup,
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
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
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<PAGE> 15
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) Subject to Section 11(a)(iii), the Company covenants
and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Common Stock and/or other securities, or out of its authorized and issued shares
held in its treasury if the corporation law of the Company's domicile provides
for treasury shares), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, Common Stock and/or other
securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be
listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all
shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official
notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file,
as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration
statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the
Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the 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. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable
in any jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction
shall have been obtained and until a registration statement has been declared
effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take
all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of the
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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<PAGE> 16
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-hundredths
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 any certificate for a number of one one-hundredths 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 or depository receipts for a number of one one-hundredths 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.
10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any
certificate for a number of one one-hundredths 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, 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, as such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a
shareholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time
after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock
payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide 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
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<PAGE> 17
Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation, statutory share exchange or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time
of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares
of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date,
shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised
after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price
then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of 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 transfer
books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under
both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided
for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior
to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event (A) any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), alone
or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the
date of this Agreement, become an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section
7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof
at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-hundredths 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-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right
would have been exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event assuming the Distribution Date had already occurred, and
(y) dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall
thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all
purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price (determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the date of such
first occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares"); provided,
however, that if the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the foregoing
adjustment is also subject to the provision of Section 13(a) hereof, then only
the provisions of Section 13(a) hereof shall apply and no adjustment shall be
made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of
Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated Charter but not
outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of
the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the
Company, by resolution of its Board of Directors, shall: (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over
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<PAGE> 18
(2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each
Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the
exercise of a Right and 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 of Directors of the Company has deemed to have
substantially the same value as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred
stock, "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, where such aggregate value has been determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of one or more
investment or financial advisors selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate
provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days
after the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section
23(a) expires following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (the
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to
deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available)
and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash shall have an aggregate
value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall
determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of
Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the
Rights, or that additional time is required for the Board of Directors to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made and to determine the value
thereof, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the
extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares or to make such decision and
determination, as the case may be (such period, as it may be extended, the
"Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some
action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this
Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e)
hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and
(y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the
Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares
and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the
first sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii) and to determine the value thereof. In
the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement
stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in
effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock
shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and
the value of any "Common Stock Equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same
value as the Common Stock on such date.
(iv) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in
accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company, by
resolution of the Board of Directors (which shall reflect a determination by the
Board that the action described below is in the best interests of the Company
and not contrary to the interests of the holders of Rights), may make
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<PAGE> 19
adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, (x) upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and 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 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, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company based upon the advice of one or more investment or financial
advisors selected by the Board of Directors of the Company or (y) upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, (1) cash, (2) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, Common Stock Equivalents), (3) debt securities
of the Company, (4) other assets or (5) any combination of the foregoing, having
an aggregate value equal to the Spread, where such aggregate value has been
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of one
or more investment or financial advisors selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company.
(b) 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 price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock)
less than the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) 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 of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. 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.
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<PAGE> 20
(c) 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, statutory share exchange 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) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) 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
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) 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) (i) For the purpose of any computation
hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) and
Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock
on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such
term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 11(a)(iv) hereof,
the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed
to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for
the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of the Common
Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of
such Common Stock of (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 prior to the expiration of the
requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth
above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in
each such case, the "Current Market Price" shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed 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,
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<PAGE> 21
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares
of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the
fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a
day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of
Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not
publicly held or not so listed or traded, "Current Market Price" per share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(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 100 (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 of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
"Current Market Price" of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall
be equal to the "Current Market Price" of one share of Preferred Stock divided
by 100.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of
Common Stock or other share or
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<PAGE> 22
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) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other
than 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) and (l), and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall
apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company
subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence
the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one
one-hundredths 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) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election
as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths
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) 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-hundredths 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-hundredths 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 any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at
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<PAGE> 23
least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights
Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights
pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable,
cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such
record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the
additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to
such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights
Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon
surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. 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) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of one one-hundredths 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-hundredth of a share and the number of one one-hundredths of a share which
were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require
that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date
for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of
such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record
date of the number of one one-hundredths 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-hundredths 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.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company 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 Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
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<PAGE> 24
(m) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not,
at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(n) hereof), (ii) merge with or into or enter into a statutory share
exchange with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer
(or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series
of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(n) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation,
merger, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer 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, share exchange, sale or transfer, the
shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal
Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution
of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and
Associates.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27
hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such
action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish
substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the
Rights.
(o) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time on or after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend
on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
(ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number
of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued
or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, 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.
(p) Before taking any action that would cause an
adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable
shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
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<PAGE> 25
(q) The exercise of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) shall
only result in the loss of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) to the extent so
exercised and shall not otherwise affect the rights represented by the Rights
under this Agreement, including the rights represented by Section 13.
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to
the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of
Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless
and until it shall have received such certificate.
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, on or following the Stock
Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate
with, enter into a statutory share exchange or merge with and into any other
Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(n) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation, statutory share exchange or merger,
(y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(n) hereof) shall consolidate with, enter into a
statutory share exchange with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the
Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation,
statutory share exchange or merger and, in connection with such consolidation,
statutory share exchange or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of
any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other
than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions
each of which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each such case,
proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except
holders described in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then-current Purchase Price in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject
to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then-current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right is exercisable immediately
22
<PAGE> 26
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event,
multiplying the number of such one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such first occurrence), and dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price"
for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (2) 50% of the Current
Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the
Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section
13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of
the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such
Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection
with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that
the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably
may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer
of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted
in such merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation, and if no securities
are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger, statutory
share exchange or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause
(z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred
pursuant to such transaction or transactions; provided, however, that in any
such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has
not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case
such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person,
the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
statutory share exchange, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party
shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which
have not been issued or reserved for issuance to
23
<PAGE> 27
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the
terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation,
statutory share exchange, merger, sale or transfer mentioned in paragraph (a) of
this Section 13, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in
all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers,
statutory share exchanges or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The
rights under this Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereof.
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions
of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(o)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there may be paid to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
Current Market Value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
Current Market Value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the 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
24
<PAGE> 28
admitted to trading, on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the
Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions
of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples
of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) 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-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock
that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredths 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-hundredths of a share
of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Current Market Value
of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredths
of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
(c) 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) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain
25
<PAGE> 29
any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act
in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights
Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations
hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
16. Agreement of Rights Holders Agreement of Rights Holders. Every
holder of a Right by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and
the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates
are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the
Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder,
as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one one-hundredths 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
26
<PAGE> 30
thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be
construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of
the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election
of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided
in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall
have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time
to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees
and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them 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
by the Rights Agent or such other indemnified party in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the performance of the Rights
Agent's duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against
any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur
no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement or the performance of the
Rights Agent's duties hereunder 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.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall
survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of
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<PAGE> 31
the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible
for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent
shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who
may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and
the determination of "Current 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 Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for
any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for
its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
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<PAGE> 32
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason
of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in
the Rights Certificates or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required
under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the
manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect
to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt of the
certificate described in Section 12 hereof setting forth 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) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith
in accordance with the instructions of any such officer or for any delay in
acting while awaiting instructions.
(h) Any application by the Rights Agent for written
instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth
in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under
this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be
taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a
proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such
application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date
the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an
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<PAGE> 33
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response
to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(i) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend
money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not
Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights
Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal
entity.
(j) 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, the Rights Agent was not
grossly negligent in the selection or continued employment thereof.
(k) 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.
(l) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate
surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate
attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case
may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to
clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action
with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting
with the Company.
(m) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties
and obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but
not limited to lost profits).
21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and thereby be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock 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) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as
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<PAGE> 34
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) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation or financial institution
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the
States of New York or North Carolina (or of any other state of the United States
so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in the States of New York or North Carolina), in good standing, and
having a principal office in the States of New York or North Carolina, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $10,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a corporation or financial institution
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, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (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 hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing
the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale;
provided, however, that (i) no such Rights
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<PAGE> 35
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.
23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) (i) The Board of Directors of the Company may,
at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (x) the Close of Business on
the tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the Close of
Business on the tenth Business Day following the Record Date), or (y) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at
a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted, as determined by the Board of Directors, 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").
(ii) If, following the occurrence of a Stock
Acquisition Date and the expiration of the right of redemption set forth in
Section 23(a)(i) but prior to any Section 13 Event, (x) a Person who is an
Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of
shares of Common Stock in one transaction or series of transactions, not
directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, such
that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 20% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, and (y) there are no other Persons,
immediately following the occurrence of the event described in clause (x), who
are Acquiring Persons, then the right of redemption shall be reinstated and
thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first
occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii) until such time as the
Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.
(iv) The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the "Current Market
Price," as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time
of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors
of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall
have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent
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<PAGE> 36
and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all
such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
24. Exchange.
(a) The Company may, at its option, by resolution of the
Board of Directors, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or any part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) of this
Agreement) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio (the "Exchange
Ratio") of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring with
respect to the Common Stock after the date of this Agreement.
(b) Immediately upon action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) of
this Agreement and without any further action and without any notice, the right
to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a
holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such
exchange, provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall
promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights
at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights
Agent or, if 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 exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the shares of Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of
any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchange. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than
Rights which have become void pursuant to the provision of Section 7(e) of this
Agreement) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient
shares of Common Stock authorized but unissued to permit the exchange in full of
such Rights in accordance with the provisions of this Section 24, the Company
shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of
Common Stock for issuance upon the exchange of the Rights. In the event that the
Company shall, after a good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as
may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock, the
Company shall substitute, for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be
issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of other equity securities
or a fraction thereof such that the Current
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<PAGE> 37
Market Price of one share of such other equity securities multiplied by such
number or fraction is equal to the Current Market Price of one share of Common
Stock as of the date of issuance of such shares of such other equity securities
or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions
of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates that evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there
shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard
to which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole
share of Common Stock.
25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after
the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to
the holders of 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), or (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, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of
its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the
subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any
consolidation, statutory share exchange or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(n) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one
or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one
transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(n) hereof),
or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights
Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the
purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date
on which such reclassification, consolidation, statutory share exchange, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of 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) 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) 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) Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (i)
the Company shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give to each holder of a
Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible
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<PAGE> 38
and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such
event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to
holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, 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.
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 delivered by hand, sent
by overnight courier or sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Insteel Industries, Inc.
1373 Boggs Drive
Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030
Attention: Secretary
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
delivered by hand, sent by overnight courier or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
First Union National Bank
1525 West W.T. Harris Boulevard, 3C3
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153
Attention: Shareholder Services Group
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
27. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date,
the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder, including the Final Expiration Date, (iv) to alter the Purchase Price
if the Final Expiration Date is changed, or (v) to change or supplement the
provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of any Acquiring Person); provided, however, this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening of such other time period is for the purpose of protecting,
enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of
Rights. 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. 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. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the rights or duties of the
Rights Agent under this Agreement shall be effective without the execution of
such supplement or amendment by the Rights Agent.
28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
(a) 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 of Directors of
the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this
Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations
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<PAGE> 40
and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions
with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors
of the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and
(y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, any determination to
be made by the Board of Directors of the Company may be made by a duly
constituted committee thereof if so authorized to act by the Board of Directors
pursuant to the Company's Bylaws, and in such circumstances any reference to the
Board of Directors herein shall be deemed to include a reference to such
committee.
30. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
registered holders of the Common Stock).
31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the
invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or
effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
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 North Carolina and for all purposes shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts
made and to be performed entirely within such State.
33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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<PAGE> 41
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By
---------------------------------
Name: Howard O. Woltz, III
Title: President
Attest:
By
---------------------------------
Name: Gary D. Kniskern
Title: Secretary
[Corporate Seal]
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
By
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[Corporate Seal]
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<PAGE> 42
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- Rights
---------- -----------
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 26, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY. THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](1)
Rights Certificate
Insteel Industries, Inc.
This certifies that _____________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 27, 1999 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between Insteel Industries, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), and First Union National Bank (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from
the Company at any time prior to 5:00 P.M., Mount Airy, North Carolina time, on
April 26, 2009 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredths of a fully paid,
nonassessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $_____ per one
one-hundredths of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and
related Certificate
- --------
(1)The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the immediately preceding sentence of the legend.
<PAGE> 43
duly executed. The Purchase Price may be paid in cash or by certified bank check
or money order payable to the order of the Company. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as
of April 27, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person or an Associate or
Affiliate of any such Acquiring Person, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such
transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such
Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof
shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence
of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of 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 Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are available upon written request to the
Company.
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-hundredths 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 not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earliest of the Close of
Business on (i) the tenth Business Day
A-2
<PAGE> 44
following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time period may be extended
pursuant to the Rights Agreement) or (ii) the Final Expiration Date. After the
expiration of the redemption period referenced in clause (i) above, the
Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person reduces
his beneficial ownership to less than 20% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company and
there are no other Acquiring Persons.
The Company may (but shall not be required to) issue fractional shares
of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof a cash payment may be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
A-3
<PAGE> 45
WITNESS, the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ,
------------ -- ------
ATTEST:
[Corporate Seal] INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By
- --------------------------- --------------------------
Name: Name: Howard O. Woltz, III
Title: Title: President
Countersigned:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By
----------------------------
Authorized Signature
A-4
<PAGE> 46
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
[To be executed by the registered holder if such holder
desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.]
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________________ hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ,
------------ -- ------
------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such term is 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 any such Acquiring Person.
Dated: ,
------------ -- ------
- ---------------------------
<PAGE> 47
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
[To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.]
To: The Rights Agent
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 Company or of any other Person which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the name of and delivered to:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
- ---------------------------------
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 print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security or other identifying number:
- --------------------------------------
Dated: ,
------------ -- ------
<PAGE> 48
- ---------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such 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.
<PAGE> 49
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
On April 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Insteel Industries, Inc.,
a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend distribution
of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, no par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), to shareholders of record at the close of
business on May 17, 1999. One Right will also be distributed for each share of
Common Stock issued after May 17, 1999, until the Distribution Date (which is
described in the next paragraph). Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredths of a share (a
"Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $80.00 per Unit, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of April 27, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 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 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following the public
announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would, if consummated,
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights) (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 May 17, 1999 will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding, even without such
notation, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and,
thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on April 26, 2009, subject to extension by the Board of
Directors, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.
<PAGE> 50
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to receive, at
the time specified in the Rights Agreement, (x) upon exercise and payment of the
Purchase Price, 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 or (y) at the discretion of the Board of Directors, upon
exercise and without payment of the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value
equal to the difference between the Purchase Price of the Right and the value of
the consideration which would be payable under clause (x). Notwithstanding any
of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in
this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will
be null and void. Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the
event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by
the Company as set forth below.
For example, at a Purchase Price of $80.00 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event
set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase
$160.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for
$80.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $10.00 at such
time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 16 shares of
Common Stock for $80.00. Alternatively, at the discretion of the Board of
Directors, each Right following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph,
without payment of the Purchase Price, would entitle its holder to Common Stock
(or other consideration, as noted above) worth $80.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other
business combination in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii)
the Company is the surviving party in a merger, statutory share exchange or
other business combination and all or part of the Company's Common Stock is
exchanged for stock or other securities of another corporation, or (iii) 50% or
more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth
above) shall thereafter have the right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring corporation having a value equal to two
times the Purchase Price of the Right. The holders of a Right will continue to
have the Flip-Over Right whether or not such holder exercises or surrenders the
Flip-In Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
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 or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at
less than the
B-2
<PAGE> 51
current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights and the number
of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of
each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the
Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or
subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in
each such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company
may exchange all or part of the Rights for shares of Common Stock at an exchange
ratio of one share per Right, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
dividend, stock split or similar transaction.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right, at any time until 10 business days
following the Stock Acquisition Date. After the redemption period has expired,
the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person
reduces his beneficial ownership to less than 20% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the
Company and there are no other Acquiring Persons. 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
$0.01 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common
stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Prior to the Distribution Date, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made when the Rights are not redeemable.
B-3
<PAGE> 52
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 dated
May ___, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from
the Company. 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.
B-4
<PAGE> 53
EXHIBIT C
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Insteel Industries, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Corporation"), hereby submits these Articles of Amendment for the purpose of
amending its Restated Charter to determine the preferences, limitations, and
relative rights of a new series of No Par Preferred Stock:
(1) The name of the Corporation is Insteel Industries, Inc.
(2) Pursuant to authority granted by Article IV of the Restated
Charter of the Corporation and in accordance with the provisions of Section
55-6-02 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, the Board of Directors
of the Corporation duly adopted on April 26, 1999, the following amendment to
the Restated Charter of the Corporation:
Article IV of the Corporation's Restated Charter is hereby
amended by adding the following to the end of Article IV:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. There is hereby created
a new series of No Par Preferred Stock designated "Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock." The number of shares constituting such series initially shall
be nine hundred thousand (900,000). Such number of shares may be increased or
decreased by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that no decrease shall
reduce the number of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to
a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the preferences,
limitations and relative rights set forth below:
(a) Dividends and Distributions.
(i) 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock and of any
other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the
<PAGE> 54
Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth day of
January, April, July and October in each year (each such date
being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an
amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the
greater of (x) $1.00 or (y) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash
dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend
payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first
issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall on or at any time after April 26, 1999 (the
"Rights Declaration Date") (A) declare any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (C) combine or consolidate the
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (y) 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.
(ii) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock as provided in subparagraph (i) 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, subject to the requirements of applicable law
and the Restated Charter, 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 $1.00 per share on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on
such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
C-2
<PAGE> 55
(iii) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Junior Participating 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
Junior Participating 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 Junior Participating
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 Junior Participating Preferred
Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no
more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment
thereof.
(b) Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting
rights:
(i) Subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
shareholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time on or after the Rights Declaration Date (A)
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or
(C) combine or consolidate 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 Junior
Participating 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.
C-3
<PAGE> 56
(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any
other amendment to the Restated Charter of the Corporation or
by law, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall vote together as one group on all matters submitted to a
vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(iii) Except as set forth herein, holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no
special voting rights and their consent shall not be required
(except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders
of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate
action.
(c) Certain Restrictions.
(i) Whenever quarterly dividends or other
dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (a) are
in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation
shall not:
(A) declare or pay dividends on, redeem
or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration,
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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(B) declare or pay dividends on, redeem
or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration,
or make any other distributions on any shares of
stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
provided that there may be declared and paid ratably
dividends on the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to
the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are then entitled; and, provided further, that
the Corporation may at any time redeem or 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 Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
C-4
<PAGE> 57
(C) purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or redeem or purchase
or otherwise acquire any shares of stock ranking on a
parity with the Series A Junior Participating
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.
(ii) The Corporation shall not permit any
subsidiary of the Corporation (for the account of such
subsidiary) to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation
could, under subparagraph (i) of this Paragraph (c), purchase
or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such
manner.
(iii) No dividend shall be declared and paid, or
set apart for payment on, any share of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock or any share of any other series
of Preferred Stock or any share of any class of stock, or
series thereof, ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock as to dividends, for any
dividend period unless at the same time a like proportionate
dividend for the same dividend period, ratably in proportion
to the respective dividends applicable thereto, shall be
declared and paid, or set apart for payment on, all shares of
the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all
shares of all other series of Preferred Stock and all shares
of any class, or series thereof, ranking on a parity with the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as to dividends,
then issued and outstanding and entitled to receive dividends.
(d) Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior
Participating 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 No Par
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of No Par
Preferred Stock, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth herein, in the Restated Charter of the Corporation (including
Articles of Amendment duly adopted in accordance with the North
Carolina Business Corporation Act) creating a series of No Par
Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.
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<PAGE> 58
(e) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(i) 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 Junior
Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall have received $100 per share, plus an amount equal
to all 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 Junior Participating 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 (A)
the Series A Liquidation Preference by (B) 100 (as
appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (iii)
below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends
and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such
number in clause (B), 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 Junior Participating Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A
Junior Participating 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
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common
Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(ii) 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 No Par Preferred Stock, if
any, which rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the
event 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.
(iii) In the event the Corporation shall at any
time on or after the Rights Declaration Date (A) declare any
dividend on Common Stock
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<PAGE> 59
payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Common Stock, or (C) 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.
(iv) Neither the sale, lease or conveyance of all
or substantially all of the property or business of the
Corporation, nor the merger, consolidation or statutory share
exchange of the Corporation into or with any other corporation
or the merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange of
any other corporation into or with the Corporation, shall be
deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up,
voluntary or involuntary, for the purposes of this Paragraph
(e).
(f) Statutory Share Exchange, Merger Consolidation, etc.
In case the Corporation shall enter into any statutory share exchange,
merger, consolidation, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the
shares of Series A Junior Participating 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 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any
other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event
the Corporation shall at any time on or after the Rights Declaration
Date (A) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (C)
combine or consolidate 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 Junior Participating 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.
(g) No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
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(h) Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating 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.
(i) Amendment. The Restated Charter of the Corporation
shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially alter
or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely,
except in accordance with the provisions of Section 55-10-04 of the
North Carolina Business Corporation Act, or as otherwise permitted by
law.
(j) Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share (which shall be
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock), 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 Junior Participating
Preferred Stock.
This 26th day of April, 1999.
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Name: Howard O. Woltz, III
Title: President
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<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.2
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael C. Gazmarian
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Insteel Industries, Inc.
336-786-2141, Ext. 3020
INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC. ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
MOUNT AIRY, NC -- April 27, 1999 - Insteel Industries, Inc. (NYSE:III), today
announced that its Board of Directors has approved the adoption of a Shareholder
Rights Plan under which all shareholders of record as of May 17, 1999, will
receive rights to purchase shares of a new series of Preferred Stock.
The Rights Plan is designed to enable all Insteel shareholders to realize the
full value of their investment and to provide for fair and equal treatment for
shareholders in the event that an unsolicited attempt is made to acquire
Insteel. The adoption of the Rights Plan is intended as a means to guard against
abusive takeover tactics and is not in response to any particular proposal.
The rights will be distributed as a non-taxable dividend and will expire in ten
years. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 20
percent or more of Insteel's common stock or announces a tender
offer for 20 percent or more of the stock.
If a person or group acquires 20 percent or more of Insteel's common stock, all
shareholders except the purchaser will be entitled to acquire Insteel stock at a
50 percent discount. The effect will be to discourage acquisitions of more than
20 percent of Insteel stock without negotiations with the Board.
The rights will trade with Insteel common stock, unless and until they are
separated upon the occurrence of certain future events. The rights distribution
is not taxable to the shareholders. Insteel's Board of Directors may redeem the
rights prior to the expiration of a specified period following the acquisition
of more than 20 percent of Insteel stock. Additional details regarding the
Rights Plan will be outlined in a summary to be mailed to all shareholders
following the Record Date.
Insteel Industries manufactures and markets concrete reinforcing products,
industrial wire, nails, tire bead wire and welding wire. The company's products
are used in construction, industrial, appliance and home furnishings
applications.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.3
[INSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC. LETTERHEAD]
May __, 1999
Dear Shareholder:
On April 26, 1999, the Board of Directors adopted a shareholder rights plan (the
"Rights Plan") and declared a dividend of one right (each, a "Right") on each
outstanding share of the Company's common stock (the "Rights"). The Board of
Directors fixed May17, 1999 as the record date for this rights dividend
distribution, and the distribution to holders of record of the Company's common
stock occurred at the close of business on that date. No action on your part is
required. This distribution does not involve any cash dividend, stock dividend
or stock split. This letter describes the Rights Plan and explains our reasons
for adopting it.
The Rights Plan was adopted to protect your interests in the event the Company
is confronted with coercive or unfair takeover tactics. The Rights Plan contains
provisions designed to safeguard you in the event of an unsolicited offer to
acquire the Company, whether through a gradual accumulation of shares in the
open market, a partial or two-tiered tender offer that does not treat all
shareholders equally, the acquisition in the open market or otherwise of shares
constituting control without offering fair value to all shareholders, or other
abusive takeover tactics which the Board believes are not in the best interests
of the Company's shareholders. These tactics unfairly pressure shareholders,
squeeze them out of their investment without giving them any real choice and
deprive them of the full value of their shares. The Rights Plan was not adopted
in response to any specific effort to acquire control of the Company, nor is the
Company aware of such an effort.
More than 2,500 companies have rights plans similar to the one we have adopted.
We consider the Rights Plan to be the best available means of protecting your
right to retain your equity investment in the Company and obtaining the fair
value of that investment, while not foreclosing a fair acquisition bid for the
Company.
The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent a takeover or proxy contest for
control of the Company. The Rights serve as a mechanism to encourage negotiation
and should increase the ability of the Board of Directors to effectively
represent the interests of shareholders in the event of any unsolicited attempt
to acquire the Company.
<PAGE> 2
Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength of the
Company or interfere with its business plan. The issuance of the Rights has no
dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share, is not taxable to
the Company or to you, and will not change the way in which you can currently
trade shares of the Company's common stock. Certificates representing Insteel
common stock outstanding on the record date will, as of that date, be deemed to
represent both shares and Rights, at the rate of one Right per share of common
stock. As explained in detail in the enclosed summary, the Rights will only be
exercisable if and when an event occurs which triggers their effectiveness. They
will then operate to protect you against abusive and coercive takeover tactics.
A summary of the terms of the Rights Plan is enclosed. The summary is not
complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Rights Agreement relating
thereto, a copy of which can be obtained free of charge from Insteel Industries,
Inc., 1373 Boggs Drive, Mount Airy, North Carolina 27030, Attention: Secretary.
Your Board and management are enthusiastic about the potential of the Company
and are committed to serving the best interests of its shareholders. These new
Rights are intended to preserve the value of your investment in the Company
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
H.O. Woltz III
President
Enclosure
2
<PAGE> 3
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
On April 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Insteel Industries, Inc.,
a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend distribution
of one Right for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock, no par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), to shareholders of record at the close of
business on May 17, 1999. One Right will also be distributed for each share of
Common Stock issued after May 17, 1999, until the Distribution Date (which is
described in the next paragraph). Each Right entitles the registered holder to
purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one one-hundredths of a share (a
"Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $80.00 per Unit, subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of April 27, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 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 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days following the public
announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would, if consummated,
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations.
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the
Rights) (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 May 17, 1999 will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding, even without such
notation, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and,
thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on April 26, 2009, subject to extension by the Board of
Directors, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.
<PAGE> 4
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder
of a Right will thereafter have the right (the "Flip-In Right") to receive, at
the time specified in the Rights Agreement, (x) upon exercise and payment of the
Purchase Price, 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 or (y) at the discretion of the Board of Directors, upon
exercise and without payment of the Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in certain
circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value
equal to the difference between the Purchase Price of the Right and the value of
the consideration which would be payable under clause (x). Notwithstanding any
of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in
this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified
in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will
be null and void. Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the
event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by
the Company as set forth below.
For example, at a Purchase Price of $80.00 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following an event
set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase
$160.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for
$80.00. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of $10.00 at such
time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 16 shares of
Common Stock for $80.00. Alternatively, at the discretion of the Board of
Directors, each Right following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph,
without payment of the Purchase Price, would entitle its holder to Common Stock
(or other consideration, as noted above) worth $80.00.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other
business combination in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii)
the Company is the surviving party in a merger, statutory share exchange or
other business combination and all or part of the Company's Common Stock is
exchanged for stock or other securities of another corporation, or (iii) 50% or
more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth
above) shall thereafter have the right (the "Flip-Over Right") to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring corporation having a value equal to two
times the Purchase Price of the Right. The holders of a Right will continue to
have the Flip-Over Right whether or not such holder exercises or surrenders the
Flip-In Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second
preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain
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<PAGE> 5
rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities 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 or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding Rights
and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in
Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock
occurring, in each such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company
may exchange all or part of the Rights for shares of Common Stock at an exchange
ratio of one share per Right, as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock
dividend, stock split or similar transaction.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right, at any time until 10 business days
following the Stock Acquisition Date. After the redemption period has expired,
the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person
reduces his beneficial ownership to less than 20% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the
Company and there are no other Acquiring Persons. 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
$0.01 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common
stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Prior to the Distribution Date, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made when the Rights are not redeemable.
3
<PAGE> 6
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 dated
May 7, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. 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.
4
