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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20569
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 94-1369354
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(State of incorporation (IRS Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
50 Fremont Street
26th Floor
San Francisco, California 94105
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. [X]
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. [ ]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
N/A
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
To be so registered each class is to be registered
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Preferred Stock Purchase Rights New York Stock Exchange
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
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(Title of Class)
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
On March 17, 1998, the Board of Directors of ABM Industries Incorporated, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share
("Common Stock"), of the Company held of record at the close of business on
April 22, 1998 (the "Record Time"), or issued thereafter and prior to the
Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and thereafter pursuant to options and
convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding at the Separation Time. The
Rights will be issued pursuant to a Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 1998
(the "Rights Agreement"), between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). Each Right entitles its
registered holder to purchase from the Company, after the Separation Time, one
one-thousandth of a share of Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Preferred Stock"), for $175.00 (the "Exercise Price"), subject to
adjustment. The Preferred Stock is designed so that each one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock has economic and voting terms similar to those of one
share of Common Stock.
The Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates until the
close of business on the earlier of (either, the "Separation Time") (i) the
tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company
may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time
that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) commences a tender or exchange offer which, if
consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person, as
defined below, and (ii) the first date (the "Flip-in Date") of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that a Person has become an
Acquiring Person; provided that if the foregoing results in the Separation Time
being prior to the Record Time, the Separation Time shall be the Record Time;
and provided further that if a tender or exchange offer referred to in clause
(i) is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time
without the purchase of any shares of stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall
be deemed never to have been made.
An Acquiring Person is any Person having Beneficial Ownership (as defined
in the Rights Agreement) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Voting
Stock, which term shall not include (i) the Company, any wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company or any employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of
the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any person who
is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock as of the
date of the Rights Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the outstanding Voting Stock solely as a result of an acquisition of
Voting Stock by the Company, until such time as such Person acquires additional
Voting Stock, other than through a dividend or stock split, (iii) any Person who
Beneficially Owns shares of Voting Stock consisting solely of (A) shares of
Voting Stock acquired pursuant to the grant or exercise of an option granted by
the Company in connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the
Company at a time at which there is no Acquiring Person, (B) shares of Voting
Stock owned by such Person and its Affiliates and Associates at the time of such
grant and (C) shares of Voting Stock, amounting to less than 1% of the
outstanding Voting Stock, acquired by Affiliates and Associates of such Person
after the time of such grant, or (iv) Theodore Rosenberg and Sydney J.
Rosenberg, individually and as members of a group, and any trust or foundation
to which either Theodore Rosenberg or Sydney J. Rosenberg has transferred
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or may transfer shares of Common Stock, and any Person who acquires shares of
Common Stock from Theodore Rosenberg, Sydney J. Rosenberg, or any such trust or
foundation by gift, inheritance or in a transaction in which no consideration is
exchanged. 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, has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to such foregoing, then such Person
shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of the Rights
Agreement. "Voting Stock" means shares of capital stock of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Separation Time, the Rights
will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Common Stock
certificates issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall
contain a legend incorporating by reference the terms of the Rights Agreement
(as such may be amended from time to time). Notwithstanding the absence of the
legend, certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock outstanding at the Record
Time shall also evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced
thereby. Promptly following the Separation Time, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of
record of Common Stock at the Separation Time.
The Rights will not be exercisable until the Business Day (as defined in
the Rights Agreement) following the Separation Time. The Rights will expire on
the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time (as defined below), (ii) the close of
business on April 22, 2008, (iii) the date on which the Rights are redeemed as
described below and (iv) upon the merger of the Company into another corporation
pursuant to an agreement entered into when there is no Acquiring Person (in any
such case, the "Expiration Time").
The Exercise Price and the number of Rights outstanding, or in certain
circumstances the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of a
Common Stock dividend on, or a subdivision or a combination into a smaller
number of shares of, Common Stock, or the issuance or distribution of any
securities or assets in respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock.
In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Date occurs, the
Company shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide that
each Right (other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any
affiliate or associate thereof, which Rights shall become void) shall constitute
the right to purchase from the Company, upon the exercise thereof in accordance
with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock of the Company having an aggregate Market Price (as defined in
the Rights Agreement), on the date of the public announcement of an Acquiring
Person's becoming such (the "Stock Acquisition Date") that gave rise to the
Flip-in Date, equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to
the then current Exercise Price.
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In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at
any time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person
becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
Voting Stock, elect to exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights
(other than Rights Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate
or associate thereof, which Rights become void) for shares of Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date of the Separation Time (the "Exchange Ratio"). Immediately upon such
action by the Board of Directors (the "Exchange Time"), the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the
right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio.
Whenever the Company shall become obligated to issue shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights, the Company, at its option, may
substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock, at a ratio of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock so issuable.
In the event that prior to the Expiration Time the Company enters into,
consummates or permits to occur a transaction or series of transactions after
the time an Acquiring Person has become such in which, directly or indirectly,
(i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a binding share
exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or
share exchange or at the time the Company enters into an agreement with respect
to such consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person controls
the Board of Directors of the Company, or (ii) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer) directly or by sale of stock, assets or control of assets (A)
aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book value or fair
market value) as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year or (B)
generating more than 50% of the operating income or cash flow during the most
recently completed fiscal year, 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) or to two or more such Persons which are affiliated or
otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of such sale or transfer of assets
or at the time the Company (or any such subsidiary) enters into an agreement
with respect to such sale or transfer, the Acquiring Person controls the Board
of Directors of the Company, then any such transactions or events shall
constitute a "Flip-over Transaction or Event" under the Rights Agreement.
The Company shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure, and
shall not enter into, consummate or permit to occur, such Flip-over Transaction
or Event until it shall have duly entered into a binding and enforceable
supplemental agreement with the Person engaging in such Flip-over Transaction or
Event or the parent corporation thereof (the "Flip-over Entity"), for the
benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing, that upon consummation or
occurrence of the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, that number of
shares of common stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate Market Price
on the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event
equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the then
current Exercise Price
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and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,
by virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental
agreement, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, but the Company's obligations under the Rights Agreement will not be
discharged and will continue in full. For purposes of the foregoing description,
the term "Acquiring Person" shall include any Acquiring Person and its
Affiliates and Associates and others with whom it is acting in concert counted
together as a single Person.
The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior
to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, redeem all (but not less than all)
the then outstanding Rights at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"), as provided in the Rights Agreement. Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors of the Company electing to redeem the Rights, without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the
Redemption Price in cash for each Right so held.
The holders of Rights will, solely by reason of their ownership of Rights,
have no rights as stockholders of the Company, including without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects and can cause substantial
dilution to a person or group that acquires 20% of more of the Common Stock on
terms not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Rights should
not, however, interfere with any merger or other business combination that the
Board finds to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
because the Rights can be redeemed by the Board on or prior to the close of
business on the Flip-in Date, before the consummation of such transaction.
As of March 17, 1998, there were approximately 21,021,823 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding. As long as the Rights are attached to the Common
Stock, the Company will issue one Right with each new share of Common Stock so
that all such shares will have Rights attached.
The Rights Agreement, the forms of Rights Certificate and Election to
Exercise and the form of Certificate of Designation and Terms of the
Participating Preferred Stock are attached hereto as exhibits and are
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No. Description
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(1) Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between ABM Industries Incorporated and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, including the
forms of Rights Certificate and of Election to Exercise, attached
as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement, and the form of Certificate
of Designation and Terms of
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Participating Preferred Stock of the Company, attached as Exhibit
B to the Rights Agreement.
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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, thereunto duly authorized.
ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ WILLIAM W. STEELE
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Name: William W. Steele
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
Dated: March 18, 1998
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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(1) Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between ABM Industries Incorporated and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, including the
forms of Rights Certificate and of Election to Exercise, attached
as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement and the form of Certificate
of Designation and Terms of Participating Preferred Stock of the
Company, attached as Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement.
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EXHIBIT 1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of
March 17, 1998
between
ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agents
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
ARTICLE I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS..................................................... 2
1.1 Certain Definitions..................................................... 2
ARTICLE II THE RIGHTS.............................................................. 10
2.1 Summary of Rights....................................................... 10
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates..................................... 10
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights................................ 11
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights......................... 14
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective..................................... 16
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates... 16
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange..................... 17
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates............... 18
ARTICLE III ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.......... 21
3.1 Flip-in................................................................. 21
3.2 Flip-over............................................................... 25
ARTICLE IV THE RIGHTS AGENT........................................................ 26
4.1 General................................................................. 26
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............... 27
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent.................................................. 28
4.4 Change of Rights Agent.................................................. 31
ARTICLE V MISCELLANEOUS........................................................... 33
5.1 Redemption.............................................................. 33
5.2 Expiration.............................................................. 34
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates..................................... 34
5.4 Supplements and Amendments.............................................. 35
5.5 Fractional Shares....................................................... 35
5.6 Rights of Action........................................................ 36
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder............................... 36
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions.............................................. 37
5.9 Notices................................................................. 37
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability............................................ 38
5.11 Costs of Enforcement.................................................... 39
5.12 Successors.............................................................. 39
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement.............................................. 39
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc................ 39
5.15 Descriptive Headings.................................................... 40
5.16 Governing Law........................................................... 40
5.17 Counterparts............................................................ 40
5.18 Severability............................................................ 40
</TABLE>
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Rights Certificate
(Together with Form of
Election to Exercise)
Exhibit B Form of Certificate of
Designation and Terms of
Participating Preferred Stock
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this "Agreement"), dated as
of March 17, 1998, between ABM Industries Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent," which term shall include any successor Rights Agent
hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized and
declared a dividend of one right ("Right") in respect of each outstanding share
of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of
business on April 22, 1998 (the "Record Time") and (b) authorized the issuance
of one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record
Time and prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and, to the
extent provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock issued after the
Separation Time;
WHEREAS, subject to the terms hereof, each Right entitles the holder
thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the Company (or,
in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on behalf
of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection with
the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
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NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is Beneficial Owner of 20%
or more of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock (as hereinafter defined);
provided, however, that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include (i) any
Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding Shares of
Common Stock on the date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial
Owner (as hereinafter defined) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Voting Stock solely as a result of an acquisition by the Company of shares of
Voting Stock, until such time hereafter or thereafter as any of such Persons
shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a stock dividend or
stock split) of any additional shares of Voting Stock, (ii) any Person who
Beneficially Owns shares of Voting Stock consisting solely of one or more of (A)
shares of Voting Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise of
an option granted to such Person by the Company in connection with an agreement
to merge with, or acquire, the Company at a time at which there is no Acquiring
Person, (B) shares of Voting Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable
into or exercisable for Voting Stock), Beneficially Owned by such Person or its
Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) or Associates (as hereinafter defined) at
the time of grant of such option or (C) shares of Voting Stock (or securities
convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Voting Stock) acquired by
Affiliates or Associates of such Person after the time of such grant, which, in
the aggregate,
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amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, (iii) the
Company, any wholly owned Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) of the Company,
and any employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company
or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, or (iv) Theodore Rosenberg and
Sydney J. Rosenberg, individually and as members of a group, and any trust or
foundation to which either Theodore Rosenberg or Sydney J. Rosenberg has
transferred or may transfer shares of Common Stock, and any Person who acquires
shares of Common Stock from Theodore Rosenberg, Sydney J. Rosenberg, or any such
trust or foundation by gift, inheritance or in a transaction in which no
consideration is exchanged. 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 definition of "Acquiring Person," has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient
number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to such foregoing provisions of this
definition of "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such
Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own", any securities as to which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement,
as well as any securities as to which such Person or any of such
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Person's Affiliates or Associates has the right to become the Beneficial Owner
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time
or the occurrence of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", or to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, or to " Beneficially Own", any security (i) solely
because such security has been tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by such Person or any of such Person's affiliates or Associates until such
tendered security is accepted for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the
power to vote or direct the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable
proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made to
holders of shares of a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and pursuant to, and in accordance with,
the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
except if such power, (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable
under Item 6 of Schedule 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any
similar provision of a comparable or successor report). For purposes of the
Agreement, in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of Voting
Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial Owner, all shares as to
which such Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed outstanding.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are generally
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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"Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., California
time, on such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 P.M., California
time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, $.01 per share
par value, of the Company.
"Control" or "control" shall mean the possession, direct or indirect,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right.
Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price
shall equal $175.00.
"Expiration Time" shall meant the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time,
(ii) the Redemption Time (as hereinafter defined), (iii) the close of business
on the tenth-year anniversary of the Record Time and (iv) upon the merger of the
Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into when
there is no Acquiring Person.
"Flip-in Date" shall mean any Stock Acquisition Date (as hereinafter
defined) or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the Company
may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in Date that
would otherwise have occurred.
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"Flip-over Entity," for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the
case of Flip-over Transaction or Event (as hereinafter defined) described in
clause (i) of the definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into
which shares of Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such
securities are being issued, the other party to such Flip-over Transaction or
Event and (ii) in the case of Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in
clause (ii) of the definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion
of the assets or earning power being transferred in such Flip-over Transaction
or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation,
the parent corporation shall be the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Stock" shall mean the class of capital stock (or similar
equity interest) with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of
directors (or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business
and affairs) of the Flip-over Entity.
"Flip-over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after the time when an Acquiring Person has become such in which,
directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate or merge or
participate in a share exchange with any other Person if, at the time of the
consolidation, merger or share exchange or at the time the Company enters into
any agreement with respect to any such conciliation, merger or share exchange,
the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of the Company, or (ii) the
company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries
shall sell or otherwise transfer) directly or by sale of stock, assets or
control of assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by
either book value or fair market value) as of the end of the more recently
completed fiscal year or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or
cash flow during the more recently completed fiscal year, of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or
more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries)
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or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates or otherwise
acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by the Company (or any such
Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer of assets,
the Acquiring Person controls the Board of Directors of the Company. For
purposes of the foregoing description, the term "Acquiring Person" shall include
any Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates and others acting
directly or indirectly on behalf of or in concert with any such Acquiring
Person, Affiliate or Associate, counted together as a single Person.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
that if a type of event analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4
hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market Price
on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date because of stock exchange or
other trading adjustments, each such closing price so used shall be
appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the closing
price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any date
shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale
takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, 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, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, as
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reported on the NASDAQ National Market System, or if the securities are not
included therein or reported thereby, as reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or such other system then in
use, or, if any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange or quoted by any such organization or
system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the securities selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if on any such date
the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange or quoted in the over-the-counter market, the closing price per share
of such securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized
investment banking firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights
Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association,
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of the Agreement), corporation or
other entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean the series of Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company created by a Certificate of
Designation and Terms in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto
appropriately completed.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent ($0.01) per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
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"Separation Time" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i) the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation
Time that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person
commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such
Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-in Date; provided, that
if the foregoing results in the Separation Time being prior to the Record Time,
the Separation Time shall be the Record Time and provided further, that if any
tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is
cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time
without the purchase of any shares of Voting Stock pursuant thereto, such offer
shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person (by any means) that an
Acquiring Person has become such, provided such Person otherwise comes within
the definition of an "Acquiring Person" hereinabove set forth.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities
exchange or quotation system on which such securities are
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listed or traded is open for the transaction of business or, if such securities
are not listed or traded on any national securities exchange or quotation
system, a Business Day.
"Voting Stock" means shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors.
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Time, the
Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each holder of
record of Common Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address as shown
by the records of the Company.
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the Common Stock
issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time shall evidence one
Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following
legend:
Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred
to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 1998,
(as such may be amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between ABM
Industries Incorporated (the "Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., as Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of
the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
such Rights may be redeemed, may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or
other securities or assets of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, may
expire, may become void (if they are
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"Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement, or by any transferee
of any of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by separate certificates and may no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange for
the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this certificate
without charge within five days after the receipt of a written request therefor.
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and
outstanding at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common
Stock evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights
(a) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as
herein set forth, each Right will entitle the holder thereof, after the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise
Price, one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Until the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii)
each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record
Time, with the letter mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to Section
2.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be transferred by a
transfer (whether with or without such letter) of, such associated share.
(c) Subject to the terms hereof, after the Separation Time and prior to
the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may be exercised and (ii) may be transferred
independent of shares of Common Stock. Promptly following the Separation Time,
the Rights Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common Stock as of the
Separation Time (other than any Person
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whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such holder's
address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing to
furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this purpose), (x) a
certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form of Exhibit A
hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights held by such
holder at the Separation Time and having 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 law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any national
securities exchange or quotation system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a disclosure statement
describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to the terms hereof, Rights may be exercised on any
Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise") substantially in the
form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the
order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax
or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to the terms
hereof, the
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Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from a transfer agent
stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or other securities to be
purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its transfer agents to
comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company elects pursuant to
Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional shares,
requisition from the depositary selected by the Company depositary receipts
representing the fractional share to be purchased or requisition from the
Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance
with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates, depositary
receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of certificates or
depositary receipts) in such name or names as may be designated by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Exercise Prices ), be duly and validly authorized,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all
such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in
connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii)
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of
the
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<PAGE> 17
the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or
charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
of delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being
transferred or exercised.
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights
(a) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock
payable in Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common
Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to
the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the
number of shares of Common Stock (the "Expansion Factor") that a holder of one
share of Common Stock immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or
combination would hold thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held
prior to such adjustment will become that number of Rights equal to the
Expansion Factor, and the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be
distributed among the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the original
Rights were associated (if they remain outstanding) and the shares issued in
respect of such dividend, subdivision or combination, so that each such share of
Common Stock will have exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment
made pursuant to this paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective
date for the applicable dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in
a transaction referred to in
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<PAGE> 18
the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common Stock so issued shall
automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right shall be
evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the extent provided in
Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect of shares of
Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the Separation Time.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)
whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any
such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or
otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the Exercise
Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable upon
exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order
adequately to protect the interests of holders of Rights generally, and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section
2.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (ii) promptly file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of
such certificate and (iii) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of
Rights.
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(d) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the securities purchase
upon exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the securities so purchasable which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights
Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the
Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable taxes and other governmental
charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made; provided, however,
that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the stock
transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have
become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificates shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the
Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Administration Officer or one
of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by
its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding
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<PAGE> 20
that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such officer prior to
the countersignature and delivery of such Rights Certificates.
Promptly after the Company learns of the Separation Time, the Company
will notify the Rights Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights
Certificates executed by the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature,
and, subject to Section 3.1(b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and
deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to
Section 2.3(c) hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose
unless manually countersigned by the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be date the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
(a) After the Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a
register (the "Rights Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company will provide for the registration
and transfer of Rights. The Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar"
for the purpose of maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and
registering Rights and transfers of Rights after the Separation Time as herein
provided. In the event that the Rights Agent will have the right to examine the
Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of Section 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will
execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant
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to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the
same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed or terminated under Section
5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates
(a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights
Agent prior to the Expiration Time, then, subject to Section 3.1(b) and 5.1, the
Company shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in
exchange therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Right
as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
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(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Section 3.1(b) and 5.1 and in the absence of
notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its
request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate so
destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and
proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder.
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock Certificate) for
registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the
Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the
Redemption
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Price, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary. As used in the Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires, the term "holder" of any Rights shall mean the registered holder of
such Rights (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated shares of Common
Stock).
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any
Rights Certificate previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificate
so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificate shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificate cancelled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy all cancelled Rights
Certificate and deliver a certificate of destruction to the Company.
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting the
same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every
other holder of Rights that:
(a) Prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) After the Separation Time, the Rights Certificate will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
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(c) Prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) This Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof.
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in
(a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Date shall
occur, the Company shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and
provide that, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right shall
constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number of
shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock Acquisition
Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the
Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the
interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or after such
Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous
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to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with
respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect,
of any of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights
(including transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer
such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is
presented for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not
complete the certification set forth at the end of the form or assignment or
notice of election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former
Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall
reasonably request, then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the
Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-in Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock
elect to exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights (which shall not
include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section
3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of
holders of Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Time an event
of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b)
shall have occurred with respect to the Common
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Stock (such exchange ratio, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter
referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b), will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof (specifying the
steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to the Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder or record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges by the holder was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be
deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate
shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock transfer
books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or
(c) to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights,
the Company, at its option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock,
at a ratio of one-thousandth of a share
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of Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock so issuable, appropriately
adjusted to protect interests of the holders of the Rights generally to reflect
any event of this type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4
(a) or (b) which may have occurred with respect to the Common Stock.
(e) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company
to permit the exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(a) or (c), the Company shall either (1) call a meeting of
Stockholders seeking approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be
authorized (provided that if such approval is not obtained the Company will take
the action specified in clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action
as shall be necessary to ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock
Acquisition Date to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to receive, (x) at the Company's option, either (A) in
return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a
combination thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or
(B) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable
law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof)
having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Market Price of a share
of Common Stock on the Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the
Flip-in Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of
such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.
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3.2 Flip-over
(a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not enter into any
agreement with respect to, or consummate or permit to occur, any Flip-over
Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have duly entered into a binding
and enforceable supplemental agreement with the Flip-over Entity, for the
benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or
occurrence or the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter
constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity, upon exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-over
Stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate Market Price on the date of
consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event Equal to twice
the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right
to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of
Rights generally in the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence
an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or
(b) shall have occurred with respect to the Flip-over Stock) and (ii) the
Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement, but the
Company's obligations under this Agreement shall not be discharged and shall
continue in full. The provisions of this Section 3.2 shall apply to successive
Flip-over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not enter into any
agreement with respect to, or consummate or permit to occur, any Flip-over
Transaction or Event of at the time thereof there are any rights, warrants or
securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or instruments that
would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any
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material respect the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement
to the holders of Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General
(a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for
the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights
Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights
Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and,
from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and
counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the
acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending against any claim of liability.
(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 certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate
for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power
of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate,
26
<PAGE> 30
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.
4.2 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 is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stockholder services business of the rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
will be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment
as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof. In case
at the time such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this
Agreement any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;
and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not be
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name
of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates
will have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at
such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
27
<PAGE> 31
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent
The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this
Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company
and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel will 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 deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be provided
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 provided and
established by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to
be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Administration Officer, the President
or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights
Agent; and such certificate will 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.
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<PAGE> 32
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. Anything to the contrary
notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special,
indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever
(including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been
advised of the likelihood of such damages.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 2.4, 3.1 or 3.2 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after
receipt of the certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such
adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any
representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or any Rights or as to whether
any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly
and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and
nonassessable.
29
<PAGE> 33
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may be 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
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief
Administration Officer, the President or any Vice President or the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the
Company, and to apply to such persons for advice or instructions in connection
with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by
it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such person.
(h) The Rights Agent and any Stockholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, 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 will 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.
30
<PAGE> 34
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be discharged
from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days' notice (or such lesser notice
as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the
holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may remove the
Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and to
the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the Rights Agent
should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company
will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company fails to make such
appointment within a period of 30 days after 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 any rights (which holder shall,
with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the
Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the State of New York or California, 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 New York or California, which is authorized under
such laws to exercise the powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by this
Agreement and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $15,000,000. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent will 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
31
<PAGE> 35
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
will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each
transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the
holders of the Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section
4.4, 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.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to redeem all
(but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price and
the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price either in cash or
shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of
Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in
value to the Redemption Price.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be
effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter represent only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or
securities, as
32
<PAGE> 36
determined by the Board of Directors. Promptly after the Rights are redeemed,
the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in accordance with
Section 5.9.
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except as provided in Sections 3.1 and
5.1 hereof, with respect to Rights which the Board of Directors of the Company
have elected to exchange or redeem, and except with respect to any Rights for
which an Election to Exercise has been duly filed with the Rights Agents prior
to the Expiration time.
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Time and prior to the Redemption Time or Expiration
Time pursuant to the terms of securities exercisable, convertible or
exchangeable into shares of Common Stock or pursuant to options exercisable for
Common Stock or in connection with the vesting or payment of securities awarded
by the Corporation under any plan or arrangement, in each case issued, granted
or awarded prior to, and outstanding at, the Separation Time, the Company shall
issue to the holders of such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with the issuance or
sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided, however, in each case, (i) no
such Rights Certificate shall be issued, if, and to the
33
<PAGE> 37
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
to the Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such
Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate
adjustment shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and
(iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to
any Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any
transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-in Date, in any
respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-in Date, to make any
changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally
(other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring
Person). The Rights Agent will duly execute and deliver any supplement or
amendment hereto requested by the Company which satisfies the terms of the
preceding sentence.
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares
on behalf of the holders of Rights and pay to the
34
<PAGE> 38
registered holder of such Rights the appropriate fraction of price
per share received upon such sale.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, 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 such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and 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.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any
Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose
the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any rights, as
such, any of the rights of a Stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to Stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting Stockholders (except as
provided in Section 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends or
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<PAGE> 39
subscription rights, or otherwise, until such Rights
shall have been exercised or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 Notices of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit (in
cases where the Company's permission is required) occurrence of any Flip-in Date
or Flip-over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the Flip-in Date or the date on which such
Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to
take place, and such notice shall be as given at least 20 Business Days prior to
the date of the taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
ABM Industries Incorporated
160 Pacific Avenue, Suite 222
San Francisco, California 94111
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights
Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Company) as follows:
36
<PAGE> 40
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
235 Montgomery Street
23rd Floor
San Francisco, California 94104
Attention: Relationship Management
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it
appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation
Time, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock.
All such notices and demands shall be deemed to have been given on the
date of delivery thereof, if delivered by hand, and on the third day after the
mailing thereof, if mailed. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1(a), (b), (d) or (e) or to comply with federal or state securities
laws, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of
up to ninety (90) days following the date of the occurrence of the Separation
Time or the Flip-in Date in order to take such action or comply with such laws.
In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly as
practicable a public announcement stating that the exercisability or
exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof
pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.
Failure to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity of any action taken hereunder.
37
<PAGE> 41
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or any
other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce
such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 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.
5.13 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
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
5.14 Determinationi and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The Board
of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
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<PAGE> 42
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND FOR ALL
PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH
STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH
STATE.
5.17 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.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidation or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provision hereof
or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than those
as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
39
<PAGE> 43
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ WILLIAM W. STEELE
------------------------------------
Name: William W. Steele
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
By: /s/ ASA DREW
------------------------------------
Name: Asa Drew
Title: Assistant Vice President
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<PAGE> 44
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. ____ Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION
OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF
(AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY
OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
This certifies that _______________, or registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 1998 (as amended from
time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between ABM Industries Incorporated, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any
successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the Company
at any time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to the close of business on April 22, 2008 (California
time) one one-thousandth of a fully paid share of Participating Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Company (subject to
adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred
to below, upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the
Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at the principal office of the Rights
Agent in The City of New York or Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. The Exercise Price
shall initially be $175.00 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in
certain events as provided in the Rights Agreement.
A-1
<PAGE> 45
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Preferred Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by
this Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances,
at its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, or (b) exchanged by the
Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one share of Common
Stock or one-thousandth of a share of
A-2
<PAGE> 46
Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets of
the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as provided
in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any securities
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything
contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the
holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a Stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
Stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
the Stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
A-3
<PAGE> 47
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Date: ___________ ___, _______
ATTEST: ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
- ------------------------------------- By:
Secretary ------------------------------------
Countersigned:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER
SERVICES, L.L.C.
By:
---------------------------------
Authorized Signature
A-4
<PAGE> 48
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________________ hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto _____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ________________, _______
Signature Guaranteed: ----------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as
written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
A-5
<PAGE> 49
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
----------------------------------------
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial
Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
A-6
<PAGE> 50
(To be attached to each Rights Certificate)
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights
Certificate.)
TO: [ ]
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________________
whole Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the
shares of Common or Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of
such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name
of:
----------------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
-----------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
----------------------------------------------
Address:
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
-----------------------
Dated: ______________ __, ______
Signature Guaranteed: ----------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as
written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever)
A-7
<PAGE> 51
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered
national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank of trust company having an
office or correspondent in the United States.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights
and shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
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Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in
connection with a purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner
of the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
A-8
<PAGE> 52
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION AND TERMS
OF PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK OF ABM INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
We, the undersigned, William W. Steele and Harry H. Kahn, the President and
Secretary, respectively, of ABM Industries Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
(the "Corporation"), do hereby certify as follows:
Pursuant to authority granted by Article Fifth of the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation and in accordance with the
provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted the following
resolutions fixing the designation and certain terms, powers, preferences and
other rights of a new series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock, par value
$.01 per share, and certain qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereon:
RESOLVED, that there is hereby established a series of
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Corporation, and the
designation and certain terms, powers, preferences and other rights of
the shares of such series, and certain qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereon, are hereby fixed as follows:
(i) The distinctive serial designation of this series
shall be "Participating Preferred Stock" (hereinafter called
"this Series"). Each share of this Series shall be identical in
all respects with the other shares of this Series except as to
the dates from and after which dividends thereon shall be
cumulative.
(ii) The number of shares in this Series shall initially
be 50,000, which number may from time to time be increased or
decreased (but not below the
B-1
<PAGE> 53
number then outstanding) by the Board of Directors. Shares of
this Series purchased by the Corporation shall be cancelled and
shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock
undesignated as to series. Shares of this Series may be issued in
fractional shares, which fractional shares shall entitle the
holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional share, to all
rights of a holder of a whole share of this Series.
(iii) The holders of full or fractional shares of this
Series shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the
Board of Directors, but only out of funds legally available
therefor, dividends, (A) on each date that dividends or other
distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in
Common Stock of the Corporation) are payable on or in respect of
Common Stock comprising part of the Reference Package (as defined
below), in an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the
aggregate amount of dividends or other distributions (other than
dividends or distributions payable in Common Stock of the
Corporation) that would be payable on such date to a holder of
the Reference Package (as hereinafter defined) and (B) on the
last day of March, June, September and December in each year, in
an amount per whole share of this Series equal to the excess (if
any) of $2.50 over the aggregate dividends paid per whole share
of this Series during the three month period ending on such last
day. Each such dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of
shares of this Series on the date, not exceeding sixty days
preceding such dividend or distribution payment date, fixed for
the purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of payment of
each particular dividend or distribution. Dividends on each full
and each fractional share of this Series shall be cumulative from
the date such full or fractional share is originally issued;
provided that any such full or fractional share originally issued
after a dividend record date and on or prior to the dividend
payment date to which such record date relates shall not be
entitled to receive the dividend payable on such dividend payment
date or any amount in respect of the period from such original
issuance to such dividend payment date.
The term "Reference Package" shall initially mean 1,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("Common
Stock"), of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time after the close of business on April 22, 1998 (A)
declare of pay a dividend on any Common Stock payable in Common
Stock, (B) subdivide any Common Stock or (C) combine any Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, then and in each such case
the Reference Package after such event shall be the Common Stock
that a holder of the Reference Package immediately prior to such
event would hold thereafter as a result thereof.
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<PAGE> 54
Holders of shares of this Series shall not be entitled to
any dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in
excess of full cumulative dividends, as herein provided on this
Series.
So long as any shares of this series are outstanding, no
dividends (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other
stock ranking junior to this Series as to dividends and upon
liquidation) shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment
or other distribution declared or made upon the Common Stock or
upon any other stock ranking junior to this Series as to
dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock nor any
other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity
with this Series as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed,
purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any
moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the
redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Corporation
(except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the
Corporation ranking junior to this Series as to dividends and
upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative
dividends (including the dividend to be due upon payment of such
dividend, distribution, redemption, purchase or other
acquisition) on all outstanding shares of this Series shall have
been, or shall contemporaneously be, paid.
(iv) In the event of any merger, consolidation,
reclassification or other transaction in which the shares of
Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case
the shares of this Series shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per whole share equal to the
aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, that a holder of
the Reference Package would be entitled to receive as a result of
such transaction.
(v) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary
or involuntary, the holders of full and fractional shares of this
Series shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment is
made on any date to the holders of the Common Stock or any other
stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series upon
liquidation, to be paid in full an amount per whole share of this
Series equal to the greater of (A) $100 or (B) the aggregate
amount distributed or to be distributed prior to such date in
connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding up to a
holder of the Reference Package (such greater amount being
hereinafter referred to as the "Liquidation Preference"),
together with accrued dividends to such distribution or payment
date, whether or not earned or declared. If such payment shall
have been made in full to all holders of shares of this Series,
the holders of shares of this Series as such shall have no right
or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.
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<PAGE> 55
In the event the assets of the Corporation available for
distribution to the holders of shares of this Series upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to pay in
full all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to
the first paragraph of this Section (v), no such distribution
shall be made on account of any shares of any other class or
series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of
this Series upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up
unless proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on
account of the shares of this Series, ratably in proportion to
the full distributable amounts for which holders of all such
parity shares are respectively entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.
Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the holders of shares of this Series then
outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of assets of the
Corporation available for distribution to its Stockholders all
amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the first
paragraph of this Section (v) before any payment shall be made to
the holders of Common Stock or any other stock of the Corporation
ranking junior upon liquidation to this Series.
For the purposes of this Section (v), the consolidation or
merger of, or binding share exchange by, the Corporation with any
other corporation shall not be deemed to constitute a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(vi) The shares of this Series shall not be redeemable.
(vii) In addition to any other vote or consent of
Stockholders required by law or by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation, each whole share
of this Series shall, on any matter, vote as a class with any
other capital stock comprising part of the Reference Package and
voting on such matter and shall have the number of votes thereon
that a holder of the Reference Package would have.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed and attested this
certificate on the 17th day of March, 1998.
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President
Attest:
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Secretary
B-4
