<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MINNESOTA 41-1524393
(State of incorporation (IRS Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
221 EAST HICKORY STREET
P.O. BOX 3248
MANKATO, MN 56002-3248
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box. / /
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box. / /
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Not Applicable
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
(Title of class)
<PAGE>
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered
On February 25, 1999, the Board of Directors of Hickory Tech
Corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right") per share for each outstanding share of Common Stock, no par
value per share (a "Common Share"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to
shareholders of record on March 12, 1999 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, no par value per share (a "Preferred Share"), of the Company at a price
of $65.00 per one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject
to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a
Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of February 25, 1999,
between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Rights
Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates
will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, and a
distribution date (a "Distribution Date") for the Rights will occur, upon the
earlier of: (i) the first date of public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons has become an "Acquiring Person" (i.e., has
become, subject to certain exceptions, the beneficial owner of 15% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares (other than as a result of a Permitted Offer)) and
(ii) the close of business on the 10th day following the commencement or public
announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which
would result in a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becoming
an Acquiring Person.
A "Permitted Offer" is a tender offer or an exchange offer for
all outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary and
giving due consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best interests of
the Company and its shareholders.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by
the Common Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with the
Common Shares, (ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date
upon transfer or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for
transfer of any Common Share certificate, even without such notation or a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of
the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date,
separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be
mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on
the Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence
the Rights.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on March 12, 2009, unless extended or earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below. No fraction of a Preferred Share
(other than fractions in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share)
will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on
the closing price on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
The Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred Shares
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 Shares, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights, options or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less
than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
described in clause (ii) of this paragraph). With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments
require an adjustment of at least 1% in the Purchase Price.
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred
Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights are also subject to adjustment in
the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the
Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or
combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These Preferred Share
rights are subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common
Shares or a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares.
In the event any person becomes an Acquiring Person, each
holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person) shall thereafter have a
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current aggregate
exercise price, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of
the Company having a current aggregate market price equal to twice the
current aggregate exercise price. In the event that at any time after there
is an Acquiring Person the Company is acquired in certain mergers or other
business combination transactions or 50% or more of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are sold,
holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person) will thereafter have
the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current aggregate
exercise price, such number of
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common shares of the acquiring company (or, in certain cases, one of its
affiliates) having a current aggregate market price equal to twice the
current aggregate exercise price.
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person (subject
to certain exceptions), and prior to the acquisition by a Person of 50% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange all or part of the Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share per right, subject to adjustment.
At any time before a person has become an Acquiring Person, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment. The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
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.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1 hereto and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 2. Exhibits
1. Rights Agreement, dated as of February 25, 1999 between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, which
includes as Exhibit B thereto the form of Right Certificate.
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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: March 9, 1999
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
By /s/ Robert D. Alton, Jr.
------------------------
Robert D. Alton, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
By /s/ David A. Christensen
------------------------
David A. Christensen
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit Page Number
------ ---------------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
1 Rights Agreement, dated February 25, 1999, 7
between Hickory Tech Corporation and Norwest
Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Rights
Agent.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 1
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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
AND
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right
Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares . . . . . . . . . 21
Section 15. Rights of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder . . . . 23
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 23. Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 24. Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 28. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 30. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Section 31. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 32. Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Section 33. Descriptive Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Signatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
</TABLE>
Exhibit A -- Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock
Exhibit B -- Form of Right Certificates
Exhibit C -- Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
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<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of February 25, 1999, between Hickory Tech
Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), and Norwest Bank
Minnesota, National Association, a national banking association (the "Rights
Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
of the Company outstanding at the Close of Business on March 12, 1999 (the
"Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set
forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with
respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding other than as a result of a Permitted Offer, but shall not
include any Exempt Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall
become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common
Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding,
increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such
Person to the Threshold Percentage or more of the Common Shares of the
Company then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if a Person shall become
the Beneficial Owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Common
Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the
Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, increase the
number of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Person
above the number of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such
Person at the time of the last such share purchase by the Company, then
such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good
faith that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as
defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, has become
such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be
an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of
this paragraph, then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
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"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.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, including
without limitation securities with respect to which such Person or any
such Person's Affiliates or Associates has "beneficial ownership"
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon
the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
these 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 or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to
clause(ii)(B) above) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
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Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the
contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the
number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which
such Person would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Minnesota are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
prevailing Minneapolis time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such
date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., prevailing Minneapolis
time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
"Common Shares," when used with reference to the Company, shall
mean the shares of Common Stock, no par value per share, of the Company.
"Common Shares," when used with reference to any Person other than the
Company, shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the
greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a
Subsidiary of any other Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately
control such first mentioned Person.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.
"Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of
the Company, and any Person organized, appointed or established by the
Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
"Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
"Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an exchange offer
for all outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary
and giving due consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders.
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"Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company
having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Designations attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.
"Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) by the Company or any Person that such Person has become an
Acquiring Person.
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity
securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
"Threshold Percentage" shall mean 15%.
Section 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights
(who, in accordance with Section 3, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be
the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the
tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after
the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of, or
of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than an
Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which
would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such
dates being referred to herein as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will
be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b)) by the certificates for
Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates
shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right
Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right Certificates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent
(and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B (a "Right
Certificate"), evidencing one
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Right for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights
will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will
send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common
Shares outstanding as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates
registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a copy of the
Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the
Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date if occurring prior to the
Distribution Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common
Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary
of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last
sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest
of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall
have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Hickory Tech Corporation
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, dated as of February 25,
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
executive offices of Hickory Tech Corporation. 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. Hickory Tech Corporation will mail to the holder of this
certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of
a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in
the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to any Person who becomes an Acquiring
Person or an Associate or Affiliate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement), or certain transferees of such Person, may become null and
void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are
no longer outstanding.
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Section 4. FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. The Right Certificates (and
the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B 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 or automated
quotations system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11, the Right
Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price
per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the number of such one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION. The Right Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its
Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or its
Treasurer either manually or by facsimile signature and shall be attested by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by
the Rights Agent for purposes of authorization only and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by
the Company, such Right 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 Right Certificates had not ceased to
be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause
to be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of
each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT
CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Subject
to the provisions of Section 14, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right
Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become
void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged
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for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make
such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up,
combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon
the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto
a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so
requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will issue, execute and deliver
a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature
and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF
RIGHTS.
(a) The registered holder of any Right 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 Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof
duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for
each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on March 12,
2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 (the "Exchange Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $65,
shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and
13 and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in
accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by
payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an
amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of
such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 by certified check,
cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
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Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent
for the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for the Preferred Shares) certificates for the number of
Preferred Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the
Company shall have elected to deposit with a depository agent the total
number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder,
requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased and
the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request,
(ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be
paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14,
(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
Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by
such holder, and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, deliver such cash to
or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all of the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to
such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.
(e) 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 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) duly completed and executed the form of election to purchase set forth on
the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise and
(ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner
(or former Beneficial Owner) of such Right Certificate or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. CANCELLATION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES. All Right
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to
the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall
deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company.
Section 9. AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES.
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(a) The Company will cause to be reserved and kept available out of
its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any Preferred Shares held in
its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) At such time, if any, as the Preferred Shares issuable upon the
exercise of 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 (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely
that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company will prepare and file, as soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, a registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to (i) become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, and (ii) 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 or (B) the
Final Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be
appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.
The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days
after the date the registration statement is filed, the exercisability of the
Rights in order to permit the registration statement to become effective. Upon
any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that
the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a
public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in
such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or the exercise thereof is not
permitted under applicable law.
(d) The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to
ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the
time of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price and any applicable transfer taxes), be duly and
validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company will pay when due and payable any and all federal and
state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance
or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares 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
Right Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of
certificates or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other
than that of the registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise, or to issue or to deliver any certificates or
depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until
any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of
such Right Certificate
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at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the transfer books of the Company for the Preferred Shares are closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
such transfer books are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced
thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights
of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER 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 Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred
Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification
of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
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 capital stock
issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder
of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the
aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right
had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would
have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of
such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i)
and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i)
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<PAGE>
shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any
Person becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the event by which such Person
became an Acquiring Person is a transaction described in Section 13(a),
each holder of a Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of
the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by
(y) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Company's Common
Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date that such Person
becomes an Acquiring Person. In the event that any Person shall become an
Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be outstanding, the Company
shall not take any action which would eliminate or diminish the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
From and after the date that such Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be
void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to
exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof;
no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any
Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the
preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee
of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate
delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose
Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be canceled.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii), the Company shall take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise
of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith effort, be
unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such
additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each Common
Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number
of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share
market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction
is equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share as of
the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
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(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling
them to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (such
shares are herein called "preferred share equivalents")) or securities
convertible into Preferred Shares or preferred share equivalents at a price
per Preferred Share or preferred share equivalent (or having a conversion
price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or
preferred share equivalents) less than the then current per share market
price (as such term is defined in Section 11(d)) of the Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the
number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or preferred share equivalents 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 Preferred Shares
outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred
Shares and/or preferred share equivalents to be offered for subscription or
purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are
initially convertible); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in
a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash,
the value of such consideration shall be 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. Preferred Shares held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of
any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or
warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a
dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market
price of the Preferred Shares 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
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<PAGE>
of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share, and the
denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company to be
issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be
adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the
purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30
consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security
is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of
such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in
shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B)
any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior
to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current
per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the
current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case
no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed
or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
the last 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 Quotations
System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
the Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company. If on any such day no market maker is making a market in the
Common Shares, the fair value of such share on such day as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used in lieu
of the closing price for such day. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day
on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security
is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business
or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day.
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(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be
determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If
the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market
price" of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the
current per share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof),
multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred
Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share market
price" of the Preferred Shares 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.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the
Purchase Price; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any adjustments which by reason of
this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and
taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under
this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one
one-millionth of a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share
or security 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 years from the date of the transaction
which requires such adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the
right to exercise any Rights.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)
and 13(a), the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than
Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable
upon exercise of any Right 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 Shares contained in Section 11(a)
through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14
with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such
other shares.
(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 Preferred Share 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), subject to the provisions of Sections 11(a) and 13, 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
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evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
one-millionth of a Preferred Share) 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 substitution for any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding
after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share 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 Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Right 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 Right Certificates on such record date
Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14, the additional Rights
to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or,
at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held
by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender
thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all
the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.
Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and
countersigned in the manner provided for herein, 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 Right 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 Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial
Right Certificates issued hereunder.
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(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any,
of the Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for
a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of
such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such
record date of the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities
of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the
Preferred Shares 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 upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and
to the extent that in their sole discretion the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation
or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of
any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance
wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends on
Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter
made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable
to such shareholders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date,
(i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge
with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or transfer
(or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a
series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more
than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company
and/or any of its subsidiaries in one or more transaction each of which
complies with Section 11(o)), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation,
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merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof
shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such
Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company, after the Distribution Date, will not, except as
permitted by Section 23, 24 or 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the
Company to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement or the Rights to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare
or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii)
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common
Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such
case (i) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable
after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by
multiplying the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share so
purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately before such
event and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each Common Share
outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to
it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding immediately
prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively whenever such
a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or
consolidation is effected. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under Section 11(a)(ii) and this Section 11(p), the adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be in addition and prior to any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
Section 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
SHARES. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13,
the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for
the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c)
mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 26.
Section 13. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR
EARNING POWER.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after there is
an Acquiring Person,
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(w) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger,
(x) any Person shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, the
Company, the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or
merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged
for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash
or any other property,
(y) the Company shall effect a statutory share exchange with the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company being exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person, cash or property, or
(z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries,
then, and in each such case, except as contemplated by Section 13(e), proper
provision shall be made so that (i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied
by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of
Preferred Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal Party, not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or adverse claims,
as shall be equal to the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is, immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, statutory
share exchange, sale or transfer, exercisable and (y) dividing that product by
50% of the current per share market price of the Common Shares of such Principal
Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer, (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer, 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; and
(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares to permit the
exercise of all outstanding Rights) in connection with the consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions of this
Agreement shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in
relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the
Rights.
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(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clauses (w), (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer
of any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in
such merger, consolidation or exchange, or if no securities are so issued,
the Person that is the other party to such merger, consolidation or
exchange; 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 Shares of such
Person are not at such time or have not been continuously over the preceding
12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such
Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares
of which are and have 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 Shares 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 Shares having the
greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
share exchange, sale or transfer, unless the Principal Party shall have a
sufficient number of authorized, unreserved Common Shares which have not been
issued or are held in treasury to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such
Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of any such consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale or transfer,
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 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 earlier of (1) the date as
of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities or
(2) the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) 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; and
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(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.
(d) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind
referred to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are any
rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights. Without limiting the generality of the preceding
sentence, in case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction of
the kind referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of
(i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of a transaction of the kind referred to in
this Section 13, Common Shares of such Principal Party at less than the then
current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or
securities exercisable for or convertible into Common Shares of such Principal
Party at less than such then current market price (other than to holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment,
tax or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of Common Shares of
such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such
event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior
thereto the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been
canceled, waived or amended so as to avoid any of the effects referred to in
clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, or the authorized securities shall have
been redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in
connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed
transaction.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (w),
(x) or (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person
or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly
owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share
offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to
all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender
offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as
the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer.
Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(e),
all Rights hereunder shall expire.
(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers, consolidations, statutory share exchanges or sale or other
transfers.
Section 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or
to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights,
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there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with
regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a
whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been
otherwise issuable. The closing price 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 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 Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company issues depositary
receipts pursuant to any such agreement, such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred
Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right 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 Preferred Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share
shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
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Section 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in such holder's own behalf and
for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate in the manner provided in such Right 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
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of
any Person subject to, this Agreement.
Section 16. AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered
at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied
by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in
whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the
associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner
thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations
of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common
Shares certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights
Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 25), or to receive dividends or
subscription
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rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement.
Section 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
(a) The Company will pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of
the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other
disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and
the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company will
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, 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 in reliance upon any Right
Certificate or certificate for the Preferred Shares (or for depositary receipts
evidencing fractional interests in Preferred Shares) or Common Shares or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20.
Section 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS
AGENT.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties to this Agreement, provided that such corporation
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall
succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Right Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent
may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates
and in this Agreement.
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(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter 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 any one of the Chairman
of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to
verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be
deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery of this
Agreement (except the due execution of this Agreement by the Rights Agent)
or in respect of the validity or execution of any Right 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 Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant
to Section 11(a)(ii)) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights
(including the manner, method or amount thereof)
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provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except
with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates
after receipt of actual notice from the Company stating that a change or
adjustment is required and specifying the manner and amount thereof); nor
shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to
whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or
cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the
Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President,
the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it
shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in
good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any
delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or
other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any
transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude
the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for
any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or
by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of
any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from
any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
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Section 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and
Preferred Shares by registered or certified 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 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
Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Right
Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any
Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether
appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State
of Minnesota or New York (or of any other state of the United States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
State of Minnesota or New York), in good standing, having an office in the State
of Minnesota or New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority and which has or is a subsidiary of a
corporation which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50 million, or (b) an affiliate of a
corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares. Failure to
give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.
Section 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right 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 Right Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of Common Shares after the Distribution Date, the
Company shall, with respect to Common Shares issued upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and
outstanding on the Distribution Date, issue Rights Certificates representing
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the appropriate number of rights in connection with such issuance; provided,
however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the
extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would
create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or
the Person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such
Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. REDEMPTION.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all
but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of
$0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date of this Agreement (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such
time and on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its
sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 23, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such redemption; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure
to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within ten days after such action of the Board of Directors
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of
redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior
to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the
Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares
prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. EXCHANGE.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the
then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)) for Common
Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date of this Agreement (such exchange ratio being
hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be
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empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than an
Exempt Person) together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder
of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the
number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The
Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not
affect the validity of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice
of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any
notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange
will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will
be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights
which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based
on the number of outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than Rights which
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)) held by each
holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued and unreserved to permit
any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the
Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may
be necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange
of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the
current per share market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number
or fraction is equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share
as of the date of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares.
In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the
purposes of this paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share
shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
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(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable
in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any
other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred
Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, 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 or more transactions, of 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect any statutory share exchange with the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company being exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other corporation or cash or other property, (vi) to effect
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (vii) to declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is
to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common
Shares and/or Preferred Shares, 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) of
this paragraph at least ten days prior to the record date for determining
holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of
any such other action, at least ten days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall occur,
then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of
a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of the occurrence
of such event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of
such event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii).
Section 26. NOTICES. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Hickory Tech Corporation
P.O. Box 3248
221 East Hickory Street
Mankato, Minnesota 56002-3248
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<PAGE>
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 Right
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association
P.O. Box 738
161 North Concord Exchange
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55705-0738
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Right Certificates in order (i) to extend the Final Expiration Date or, provided
that at the time of such amendment no Person has become an Acquiring Person, the
period during which the Rights may be redeemed, (ii) to cure any ambiguity, to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions of this Agreement, (iii) prior to the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, to otherwise change or
supplement any provision in this Agreement in any manner which the Company may
deem necessary or desirable, or (iv) subject to clause (i) of this Section 27,
from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, to
otherwise change or supplement any provision in this Agreement in any manner
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).
Section 28. SUCCESSORS. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of
the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
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<PAGE>
Section 30. 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.
Section 31. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Minnesota and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and
performed entirely within such State.
Section 32. 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.
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<PAGE>
Section 33. 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 of
this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
By /s/ Robert D. Alton, Jr.
------------------------------------------
Its President and Chief Executive Officer
-------------------------------------
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By /s/ Susan J. Roeder
------------------------------------------
Its Assistant Vice President
-------------------------------------
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Board of Directors of
Hickory Tech Corporation (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and
existing under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, duly adopted the
following resolution on February 25, 1999:
RESOLVED, that a series of preferred stock of the Corporation is
hereby created, and the designation and amount thereof and the relative rights
and preferences of the shares of such series, are as follows:
Section 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Preferred
Shares") and the number of shares constituting the Preferred Shares shall be
1,000,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of
the Board of Directors and any necessary shareholder approval; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Preferred Shares
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 Preferred Shares.
Section 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series
of preferred stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the
Preferred Shares with respect to dividends, the holders of Preferred Shares, in
preference to the holders of Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day
of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being
referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Preferred Shares, in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 or (ii) 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
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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 Preferred Shares. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
after March 12, 1999, declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification
or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Preferred Shares
were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (ii) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Preferred Shares as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section immediately after
it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a
dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding
Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall
have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a
dividend of $1.00 per share on the Preferred Shares shall nevertheless be
payable, out of funds legally available for such purpose, on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Preferred Shares from their date of issue. Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of
Preferred Shares 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
Preferred Shares entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to
the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each Preferred Share 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 after March 12, 1999, declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to
which holders of shares of Preferred Shares 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
A-2
<PAGE>
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
Preferred Shares and the holders of Common Stock and any other capital stock of
the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on
all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(c) Except as set forth herein or required by law, holders of
Preferred Shares shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not
be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of
Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Preferred Shares as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Preferred Shares
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, 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 Preferred Shares;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, 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 Preferred Shares, except
dividends paid ratably on the Preferred Shares and all such parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred Shares; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire shares of any such junior 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 Preferred Shares; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
Preferred Shares, or any stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred
Shares, 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
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<PAGE>
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective
series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of
this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
Section 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any Preferred Shares purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired
and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon
their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and
may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of
Incorporation, or in any other certificate of designation creating a series of
preferred stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred
Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Preferred Shares shall have
received the greater of (i) $100 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment, or (ii) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to
be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of
stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Preferred Shares, except distributions made
ratably on the Preferred Shares and all such parity stock in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time after March 12, 1999, declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Preferred
Shares were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (1)(ii) 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.
Section 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Preferred Shares shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into
an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth,
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<PAGE>
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 after March 12, 1999, declare or pay any dividend
on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision
or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding
sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Preferred Shares
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. NO REDEMPTION. The Preferred Shares shall not be
redeemable.
Section 9. RANK. The Preferred Shares shall rank, with respect to
the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of
any other class of the Corporation's preferred stock.
Section 10. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Preferred Shares may be issued in
fractions of a share which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a
share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional
shares, to receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Preferred Shares.
Section 11. AMENDMENT. The Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter
or change the powers, preferences or rights of the Preferred Shares so as to
affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Preferred Shares, voting together as
a single class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my name this 25th day of
February, 1999.
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
By /s/ David A. Christensen
-------------------------------------
David A. Christensen
Secretary
A-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES
Certificate No. R-___ ___________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER [FINAL EXPIRATION DATE] OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.01 PER RIGHT
(SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT) AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON
OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED
IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND SUBSEQUENT HOLDERS OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL
AND VOID.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
This certifies that _______________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above,
each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions
and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 25, 1999 (the
"Rights Agreement"), between Hickory Tech Corporation, a Minnesota
corporation (the "Company"), and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the
Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior
to 5:00 P.M., Minneapolis time, on March 12, 2009 at the office or offices of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or of its successor as Rights
Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the "Preferred
Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase price of $______ (the "Purchase
Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the
Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as
of March 12, 1999, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the
exercise of the Rights evidenced by this
B-1
<PAGE>
Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the
happening of certain events.
This Right 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 Right
Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal
executive offices of the Company and the office or offices of the Rights
Agent and will be mailed without charge by the Company or the Rights Agent to
the holder of this certificate promptly following receipt by the Company or
the Rights Agent of a written request therefor.
From and after the date that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement) shall be void and any holder of such Rights
shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of
this Agreement.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates,
upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced
by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have
entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender
hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of
whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this certificate (i) may, but are not required to, be redeemed by
the Company at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment as
provided in the Rights Agreement, and (ii) may, but are not required to, be
exchanged by the Company in whole or in part for Common Shares.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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<PAGE>
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a 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 Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the manual or facsimile signature of the proper officer of the
Company.
Dated:
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
By
--------------------------
Robert D. Alton, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Attest:
By
---------------------------
David A. Christensen
Secretary
Countersigned for purposes
of authentication only:
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By
---------------------------
Authorized Signature
B-3
<PAGE>
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto ______________________________ (PRINT NAME OF TRANSFEREE)
______________________________________ (PRINT ADDRESS OF TRANSFEREE) this Right
Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does
hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________ Attorney, to transfer
the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full
power of substitution.
Please insert social security
number taxpayer identification
number or other identifying number:
-------------------------------------------
Dated:
---------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------------------------
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program),
pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
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<PAGE>
FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE--CONTINUED
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: Hickory Tech Corporation
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such
Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
number, taxpayer identification
number or other identifying number:
-------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number:
--------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated:
---------------------------
-------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------------------------
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program),
pursuant to SEC Rule 17Ad-15.
B-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On February 25, 1999, the Board of Directors of Hickory Tech
Corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase
right (a "Right") per share for each outstanding share of Common Stock, no par
value per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable
to shareholders of record on March 12, 1999 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock,
no par value per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of
$65.00 per one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of February 25, 1999, between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates
will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, and a
Distribution Date for the Rights will occur, upon the earlier of: (i) the first
date of public announcement that a Person or group of affiliated or associated
Persons has become an "Acquiring Person" (I.E., has become, subject to certain
exceptions, the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(other than as a result of a Permitted Offer and subject to certain exceptions))
and (ii) the close of business on the 10th day following the commencement or
public announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of
which would result in a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becoming an Acquiring Person.
A "Permitted Offer" is a tender offer or an exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary and giving due
consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with the Common
Shares, (ii) new Common
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Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance
of the Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any Common
Share certificate, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of
Rights attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on March 12, 2009, unless extended or earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below. No fraction of a Preferred Share
(other than fractions in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share)
will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on
the closing price on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
The Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred Shares 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 Shares, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights, options or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less
than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
described in clause (ii) of this paragraph). With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments
require an adjustment of at least 1% in the Purchase Price.
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the
Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
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Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per
Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred
Shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of
$100.00 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times
the payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes,
voting together with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each
Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per
Common Share. These rights are subject to adjustment in the event of a stock
dividend on the Common Shares or a subdivision, combination or consolidation
of the Common Shares.
In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a
Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the
then current aggregate exercise price, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number
of Common Shares of the Company having a current aggregate market price equal to
twice the current aggregate exercise price. In the event that at any time after
there is an Acquiring Person the Company is acquired in certain mergers or other
business combination transactions or 50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are sold, holders of the
Rights will thereafter have the Right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the
then current aggregate exercise price, such number of Common Shares of the
acquiring company (or, in certain cases, one of its affiliates) having a current
aggregate market price equal to twice the current aggregate exercise price.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to
certain exceptions), and prior to the acquisition by a Person of 50% or more of
the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may
exchange all or part of the Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share per right, subject to adjustment.
At any time before a Person has become an Acquiring Person, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), subject to adjustment. The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
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.
This summary of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement.
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