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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 95-2672141
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------
(State of Incorporation or Organization) (IRS Employer Identification no.)
5230 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration 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 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 to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange on
which each class is to be
Title of each class to be so registered registered
- --------------------------------------- -------------------------
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights American Stock Exchange, Inc.
Pacific Exchange, Inc.
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
N/A
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 May 10, 1999, the Board of Directors of Amwest Insurance Group, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, or
one share of each class of the Company's common stock having the right to vote
generally in the election of directors (the "Common Shares"), to be distributed
on May 11, 1999 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 10,
1999 (the "Record Date"). Each Right entitles the holder thereof to purchase one
one-thousandth (1/1000) (subject to adjustment) of a share of its Series A
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share,
having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions described in Section
5(a) below (the "Preferred Shares"), and, under certain circumstances, other
securities or property. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in
a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") dated as of May 10, 1999 by and
between the Company and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights
Agent.
The following is a brief description of the Rights. It is intended to
provide a general description only and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to the Rights Agreement which is incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit
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99.1.
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1. Common Share Certificates Representing Rights
---------------------------------------------
Until the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 2 below), (a) the
Rights shall not be exercisable, (b) the Rights shall be attached to and trade
only together with the Common Shares and (c) the stock certificates representing
Common Shares shall also represent the Rights attached to such Common Shares.
Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date and prior to the
Distribution Date shall contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference.
2. Distribution Date
-----------------
The "Distribution Date" is the earliest of (a) the tenth business day
(or such later day as shall be designated by the Board of Directors) following
the date of commencement or the public announcement of the intent of any Person
(as hereinafter defined), other than an Exempt Person (as hereinafter defined),
to commence a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would
cause any Person to be the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (upon such consummation such Person is a "15% Stockholder," and
the first date of public announcement that makes it immediately apparent that
such Person has become a 15% Stockholder is the "15% Ownership Date"), (ii) the
date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as hereinafter defined), or (iii) the
date of the first Section 13(a) Event (as hereinafter defined). In calculating
the percentage of outstanding Common Shares that are beneficially owned by any
Person, such Person shall be deemed to beneficially own any Common Shares
issuable upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of any options, warrants or
other securities beneficially owned by such Person; provided, however, that such
Common Shares issuable upon such exercise shall not be deemed outstanding for
the purpose of calculating the percentage of Common Shares that are beneficially
owned by any other Person. A "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean the event
that a 15% Ownership Date shall have occurred and neither the Redemption Date
(as hereinafter defined) nor the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred prior to the tenth business day following such 15% Ownership Date.
The "Redemption Date" shall mean the date of the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights.
The "Expiration Date" shall mean the tenth anniversary of the date of the Rights
Agreement. A "Section 13(a) Event" shall mean any event that, at any time on or
after the 15% Ownership Date and
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prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, (1) the
Company shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into
any other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation in such consolidation or merger, (2) any Person shall, directly or
indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into the Company and the Company
shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in such merger and, in
connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed
into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any Person or cash or any
other property, or (3) the Company and/or any one or more of its subsidiaries
shall, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise transfer, in one or more
transactions (other than transactions in the ordinary course of business),
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons
other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (such
Persons, together with the Persons described in clauses (1) and (2) above shall
be collectively referred to as the "Surviving Person." A "Person" shall mean any
individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, group (as such term is
used in Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, as in effect on the date of the Rights Agreement) or other entity, and
shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of any such entity. An
"Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of a subsidiary of the
Company and any Person holding voting capital stock of the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or any Person who, on
the date hereof, together with the members of such Person's immediate family,
Beneficially Owned 15% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then
outstanding. For purposes of this definition, a Person's immediate family shall
consist of such Person's parents, siblings, spouse, children and trusts the
beneficiaries of which consist solely of such Person and/or such Person's
parents, siblings, spouse or children, but shall have no application if such
Person is not a natural person. Any capitalized term used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Rights
Agreement.
Upon the close of business on the Distribution Date, the Rights shall
separate from the Common Shares, Right certificates shall be issued, and the
Rights shall become exercisable to purchase Preferred Shares as described in
Section 5 below.
3. Issuance of Right Certificates
------------------------------
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates representing only Rights shall be mailed to the holders of record
of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such
separate Right certificates alone shall represent such Rights from and after the
Distribution Date.
4. Expiration of Rights
--------------------
The Rights shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of the
Rights Agreement, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged.
5. Exercise of Rights
------------------
Unless the Rights have expired or been redeemed or exchanged, they may
be exercised, at the option of the holders, pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) or
(c) below. No Right may be exercised more than once or pursuant to more than
one of such paragraphs. From and after the first Section 11(a) (ii) Event or
the first Section 13 (a) Event, each Right that, at any time on or after the
Distribution Date, was or is
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beneficially owned by a 15% Stockholder shall be null and void, whether held or
beneficially owned by the 15% Stockholder or subsequently, by any other Person.
(a) Right to Purchase Preferred Shares. From and after the close of
business on the Distribution Date, each Right (other than a Right that has
become void) shall be exercisable to purchase one one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share, at an initial exercise price of $100 (One Hundred Dollars)
(the "Exercise Price").
Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may substitute for all
or any portion of the Preferred Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon
exercise of the Rights, cash, securities or other property having the same
aggregate Current Market Price (as defined in Section 1(h) of the Rights
Agreement) as such Preferred Shares.
The Company has authorized 30,000 Preferred Shares for issuance
upon exercise of the Rights. The Preferred Shares are nonredeemable and,
unless otherwise provided in connection with the creation of a subsequent
series of preferred stock, are subordinate to any other series of the
Company's preferred stock whether issued before or after the issuance of the
Preferred Shares. The holder of a Preferred Share is entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 10th day
of January, April, July and October of each year ("Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the
first issuance of a Preferred Share, in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 or (ii) subject to
adjustment, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends,
and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-
cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in Common
Shares or a subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification
or otherwise), declared on the Common Shares since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a
Preferred Share.
In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred Shares shall
be entitled to receive a liquidation payment of $10 per Preferred Share plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon,
whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the "Liquidation
Preference"). Following the payment of the full amount of the Liquidation
Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of
Preferred Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Common Shares shall
have received an amount per share (the "Common Amount") equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing (i) the Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as
appropriately adjusted to reflect such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such
number in clause (ii), the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of
the full amount of the Liquidation Preference and the Common Amount in
respect of all outstanding Preferred Shares and Common Shares, respectively,
holders of Preferred Shares and holders of Common Shares shall receive their
ratable and proportionate share of remaining assets to be distributed in the
ratio of the Adjustment Number to one (1) with respect to such Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
Subject to adjustment, each Preferred Share has 1,000 votes per
share, voting together with the Common Shares. In the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, the
holder of a Preferred Share shall be entitled to receive 1,000 (subject to
adjustment) times the amount received per Common Share. The rights
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of the Preferred Shares as to dividends, voting and liquidation preferences
are protected by antidilution provisions. It is anticipated that the value of
one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share should approximate the value of one
Common Share.
This discussion of the rights, privileges and preferences of the
Preferred Shares is intended to provide a general description only and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment Certificate to the
Certificate of Designation, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.
(b) Right to Purchase Common Shares of the Company. From and after
the close of business following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
each Right (other than a Right that has become void and those beneficially
owned by a 15% Stockholder, which will also be void) shall be exercisable to
purchase, at the Exercise Price (initially $100, subject to adjustment),
Common Shares with a market value equal to two times such Exercise Price. In
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may
substitute for all or any portion of the Common Shares that would otherwise
be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, cash, assets or other securities
of the Company having the same aggregate Current Market Price as such Common
Shares.
(c) Right to Purchase Common Stock of a Successor Corporation. If, on
or after the occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event, each Right (other than a
Right that has become void and those beneficially owned by a 15% Stockholder,
which will also be void) shall thereafter be exercisable to purchase, at the
Exercise Price (initially $100, subject to adjustment), shares of common
stock of the Surviving Person or purchaser, with an aggregate Current Market
Price equal to two times such Exercise Price.
6. Adjustments to Prevent Dilution
-------------------------------
The Exercise Price, the number of outstanding Rights, the number of
votes per Preferred Share and the number of Preferred Shares or Common Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time
as set forth in the Rights Agreement in order to prevent dilution. With certain
exceptions, no adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required until
cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1.0%.
7. Cash Paid Instead of Issuing Fractional Securities
--------------------------------------------------
No fractional securities shall be issued upon exercise of a Right
(other than fractions of Preferred Shares that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and that may, at the election of the
Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment
in cash shall be made based on the market price of such securities on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
8. Redemption
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Until the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event or (iii) the Expiration
Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and
direct the redemption of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such redemption price shall
be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after May 10, 1999 (the "Redemption Price"), and the
Company shall so redeem the Rights. Immediately upon such action by the Board
of
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Directors (the date of such action is the "Redemption Date"), the sole right
of the holders of Rights thereafter shall be to receive the Redemption Price.
9. Exchange
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At any time during the period of 180 days after a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and
direct the exchange of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding
Rights (other than a Right that has become void and those beneficially owned by
a 15% Stockholder, which will also be void) for Common Shares, Preferred Shares,
debt securities of the Company, other property, or any combination of the
foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the
Exercise Price on the record date for such exchange, and the Company shall so
exchange the Rights. Immediately upon such action by the Board of Directors,
the right to exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right of the holders
of Rights thereafter shall be to receive a number of Common Shares or such other
securities or property having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the
Exercise Price.
10. No Stockholder Rights Prior to Exercise
---------------------------------------
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, shall have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company (other than rights resulting from such
holder's ownership of Common Shares), including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
11. Amendment of Rights Agreement
-----------------------------
The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, without
the approval of any holders of Rights, supplement or amend any provision of this
Agreement in any manner, whether or not such supplement or amendment is adverse
to any holder of Rights, and direct the Rights Agent so to supplement or amend
such provision, and the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such
provision; provided, however, that from and after the earliest of (i) the date
of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event, (iii) the Redemption Date or (iv) the Expiration Date, this Agreement
shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would materially and
adversely affect any holder of outstanding Rights other than a 15% Stockholder
or a Surviving Person.
12. Anti-Takeover Effects
---------------------
The Rights are designed to protect and maximize the value of
stockholders' interests in the Company in the event of an unsolicited takeover
attempt in a manner or on terms not approved by the Board of Directors.
Takeover attempts frequently include coercive tactics to deprive the Board of
Directors and stockholders of any real opportunity to determine the destiny of
the Company or to obtain the highest value reasonably obtainable for the capital
stock of the Company. The Rights have been declared by the Board in order to
deter such tactics, including a gradual accumulation in the open market of a 15%
or greater position, followed by a merger or a partial or two-tier tender offer
that does not treat all stockholders equally. These tactics can unfairly
pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their investment without giving them
any real choice and deprive them of the full value of their shares.
The Rights may be redeemed by the Company as described in Section 8,
and accordingly, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business
combination approved by the Board of Directors.
Issuance of the Rights does not weaken the Company or interfere with
its business plans. The issuance of the Rights themselves has no dilutive
effect, will not affect reported earnings per share and
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should not be taxable to the Company or to its stockholders. The Company's Board
of Directors believes that the Rights represent a sound and reasonable means of
addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by the current
takeover environment.
However, the Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board of
Directors. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a Person or group that
attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the
Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the
negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
99.1 Rights Agreement dated as of May 10, 1999 between Amwest
Insurance Group, Inc. and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights
Agent, which includes thereto the Form of Rights Certificate to be distributed
to holders of Rights after the Distribution Date (as that term is defined in the
Rights Agreement).
99.2 Amended Certificate to the Certificate of Designation,
Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock of Amwest Insurance Group, Inc., effective on May 10, 1999.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: May 11, 1999 AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
/s/ JOHN SAVAGE
----------------------------
Name: John Savage
Title: President and Co-Chief Executive
Officer
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EXHIBIT 99.1
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of May 10, 1999
by and between
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY
as Rights Agent
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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<S> <C> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................................................. 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent..................................................................... 6
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates................................................................. 6
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates...................................................................... 8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration............................................................... 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost
or Stolen Right Certificates.................................................................... 9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights.............................................................................. 9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates.............................................. 11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock................................................... 11
Section 10. Securities Record Date.......................................................................... 12
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights or Number of
Rights.......................................................................................... 12
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights..... 17
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power............................ 17
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares......................................................... 19
Section 15. Rights of Action................................................................................ 20
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders...................................................................... 20
Section 17. Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.............................. 22
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..................................................................... 21
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent....................................... 23
</TABLE>
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<S> <C> <C>
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.......................................................................... 22
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.......................................................................... 24
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.............................................................. 25
Section 23. Redemption of Rights............................................................................ 25
Section 24. Exchange of Rights.............................................................................. 26
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events........................................................................ 28
Section 26. Notices......................................................................................... 27
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...................................................................... 28
Section 28. Certain Covenants............................................................................... 30
Section 29. Successors...................................................................................... 29
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...................................................................... 29
Section 31. Severability.................................................................................... 29
Section 32. Governing Law................................................................................... 30
Section 33. Counterparts.................................................................................... 30
Section 34. Descriptive Headings............................................................................ 30
</TABLE>
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TABLE OF EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A -- Form of Right Certificate
iii
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TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Term Defined Page Section
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<S> <C> <C>
Affiliate 1 1
Agreement 1 Introduction
Associate 1 1
Beneficial Owner 1 1
Beneficially Own 1 1
Board of Directors 1 Recital
Business Day 2 1
Close of Business 2 1
Closing Price 2 1
Common Share 3 1
Common Share Substitute 3 11(a)(ii)
Company (Amwest Insurance Group, Inc.) 1 Introduction
Company (following a Section 13(a) Event) 18 13(a)(iii)
Current Market Price 3 1
Distribution Date 6 3(a)
Exchange Act 3 1
Exempt Person 3 1
Exercise Price 9 7(c)
Expiration Date 3 1
15% Ownership Date 3 1
15% Stockholder 3 1
</TABLE>
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TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
----------------------
(continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Term Defined Page Section
- ------------ ----- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Person 4 1
Preferred Share 4 1
Preferred Share Equivalent 5 11(b)
Record Date 5 Recital
Redemption Date 5 1
Redemption Price 5 23(a)
Right 1 Recital
Right Certificate 5 1
Rights Expiration Date 5 Introduction
Rights Agent 1 Introduction
Section 11(a)(ii) Event 5 11(a)(ii)
Section 13(a) Event 5 13(a)
Securities Act 5 1
Subsidiary 5 1
Surviving Person 18 13(a)
Trading Day 5 1
Unavailable Exchange Shares 27 24(c)
Voting Share 5 1
</TABLE>
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the
10th day of May, 1999 by and between AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, a
New York corporation (the "Rights Agent").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors")
has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company
outstanding on May 10, 1999 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the
right to purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter
defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and has
further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each
Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the
earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date
(as such terms are hereinafter defined).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
-------------------
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on
the date hereof.
(b) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed
to "Beneficially Own" any securities:
(i) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of
the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, in each
case as in effect on the date hereof;
(ii) that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately, or
only after the passage of time, compliance with regulatory requirements,
the fulfillment of a condition or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights (other than these Rights), rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
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Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant
to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or
any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
(iii) that such Person or any such Person's Affiliates or Associates
has the right to vote, whether alone or in concert with others, pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement
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or understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
-------- -------
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security (A) arises solely from a
revocable proxy given to such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to and
in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under
the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D or
13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
(iv) that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other
Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose
of acquiring, holding, voting (other than voting pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to clause (iii) of this definition of
"Beneficial Owner") or disposing of any securities of the Company; and
(v) that, on any day on or after the Distribution Date, evidence
Rights that prior to such date were represented by certificates for Common
Shares that such Person Beneficially Owns on such day.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section l(b), a Person engaged
in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities acquired through
such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of 40 days after the date of such acquisition.
(c) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(d) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern
time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day,
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it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(e) "Closing Price" of a stock or other security on any day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, per share of such stock or unit of such other
security on such day or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or,
if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which such stock or other security is listed or admitted
to trading or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use or, if
on any such date such stock or other security is not quoted by any such
organization, the average
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of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
that makes a market in such stock or other security and that is selected by the
Board of Directors.
(f) "Common Share" shall mean one share of the Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company or one share of each class of the Company's stock
having the right to vote generally in the election of directors, unless used
with reference to a Person other than the Company, in which case it shall mean
one share of each class of stock of such Person having the right to vote
generally in the election of directors or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of
another Person, one Common Share of the Person that ultimately controls such
Person.
(g) "Common Share Substitute" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(h) "Current Market Price" per share of a stock or unit of any other
security on any date shall mean the average of the daily Closing Prices of such
stock or other security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question; provided,
--------
however, that if any event shall have caused the Closing Price on any Trading
- -------
Day during such 30-day period not to be fully comparable with the Closing Price
on the date in question (or, if no Closing Price is available on the date in
question, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question), then
each such non-comparable Closing Price so used shall be appropriately adjusted
by the Board of Directors in order to make the Closing Price on each Trading Day
during the period used for the determination of the Current Market Price fully
comparable with the Closing Price on such date in question (or, if applicable,
the immediately preceding Trading Day). "Current Market Price" per share of any
stock or unit of such other security that is not publicly held or so listed or
traded, and "Current Market Price" of any other property, shall mean the fair
value per share of such stock or unit of such other security, or the fair value
of such other property, respectively, as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors based upon such appraisals or valuation reports, if any, of such
independent experts as the Board of Directors shall in good faith determine
appropriate, which determination shall be described in a statement filed by the
Company with the Rights Agent, and which determination shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes on the Company's securityholders and holders of Rights.
(i) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3
hereof.
(j) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(k) "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the
Company, any Person holding Voting Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such employee benefit plan or any Person who, on the date hereof, together with
the members of such Person's immediate family, Beneficially Owned 15% or more of
the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding. For purposes of this
definition, a Person's immediate family shall consist of such Person's parents,
siblings, spouse, children and trusts the beneficiaries of which consist solely
of such Person and/or such Person's parents, siblings, spouse or children, but
shall have no application if such Person is not a natural person.
3
<PAGE>
(l) "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7(c)
hereof.
(m) "Expiration Date" shall mean the tenth anniversary of the date of the
Rights Agreement.
(n) "15% Ownership Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement
(which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a
report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or a
15% Stockholder containing sufficient facts making it immediately apparent that
such Person has become a 15% Stockholder.
(o) "15% Stockholder" shall mean any Person that Beneficially Owns 15% or
more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however,
-------- -------
that the term "15% Stockholder" shall not include: (i) an Exempt Person; (ii)
any Person that would not otherwise be a 15% Stockholder but for its Beneficial
Ownership of Rights; (iii) any Person that would not otherwise be a 15%
Stockholder but for a reduction in the number of outstanding Voting Shares
resulting from a stock repurchase program or other similar plan of the Company
or from a self tender offer of the Company, which plan or tender offer commenced
on or after the date hereof; provided, however, that, with respect to clause
-------- -------
(iii) of this definition, the term "15% Stockholder" shall include such Person
from and after the first date upon which (A) such Person, after the date of the
commencement of such plan or tender offer shall have acquired Beneficial
Ownership of any Voting Shares of the Company, except as a result of corporate
action by the Company not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by
any Affiliate or Associate of such Person and (B) such Person shall Beneficially
Own 15% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding. In
calculating the percentage of the outstanding Voting Shares that are
Beneficially Owned by a Person for purposes of this definition, Voting Shares
that are Beneficially Owned by such Person shall be deemed outstanding, and
Voting Shares that are not Beneficially Owned by such Person and that are
subject to issuance upon the exercise or conversion of outstanding conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options shall not be deemed
outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1(o), if
the Board of Directors determines that a Person that would otherwise be a 15%
Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1(o) has become such inadvertently, and
such Person as promptly as practicable thereafter (but in no event later than
(x) the date that is 10 days after the 15% Ownership Date or (y) such later date
that the Board of Directors has, prior to such tenth day, set), enters into such
other agreement or arrangement as the Board of Directors approves, then such
Person shall not be deemed to be a 15% Stockholder for any purposes of this
Agreement. All determination made as to whether any Person is or is not a 15%
Stockholder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes upon all of the
Company's securityholders and all holders of Rights.
(p) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the
Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof) or other entity, and shall include
any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
4
<PAGE>
(q) "Preferred Share" shall mean one share of the Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company, which shall have the rights and preferences set forth in the
Certificate of Designation for such Series.
(r) "Preferred Share Equivalent" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(b) hereof.
(s) "Record Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals
hereto.
(t) "Redemption Date" shall mean the date of the action of the Board of
Directors authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to
Section 23(a) hereof or the exchange of the Rights pursuant to Section 24(a)
hereof.
(u) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
23(a) hereof.
(v) "Right Certificate", as that term is used with respect to any period
prior to the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
3(b) hereof, and, as that term is used with respect to any period on or after
the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(c)
hereof.
(w) "Rights Expiration Date" shall mean the Expiration Date, except if
there has been a Distribution Date, then it shall mean the tenth anniversary of
the Distribution Date.
(x) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event " shall have the meaning ascribed to it in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(y) "Section 13(a) Event " shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
13(a) hereof.
(z) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(aa) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other Person
of which equity securities or equity interests representing a majority of the
voting power are owned, directly or indirectly, or which is effectively
controlled, by such Person.
(bb) "Trading Day" shall mean, as to any stock or other security, a day on
which the principal national securities exchange on which such stock or other
security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(cc) "Voting Share" shall mean (i) a Common Share of the Company and (ii)
any other share of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors or entitled to vote together with the Common Shares in
respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up. References in this
Agreement to a percentage or portion of the outstanding Voting Shares shall be
deemed a reference to the percentage or portion of the total votes entitled to
be cast by the holders of the outstanding Voting Shares.
5
<PAGE>
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
---------------------------
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of Rights in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby
accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-
Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable, upon ten (10) days' prior
written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to
supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any
such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
-------------------------------
(a) "Distribution Date" shall mean the date, after the date hereof, that is
the earliest of (i) the tenth Business Day (or such later day as shall be
designated by the Board of Directors) following the date of the commencement of,
or the first public announcement of the intent of any Person, other than an
Exempt Person, to commence a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of
which would cause any Person to become a 15% Stockholder, (ii) the date of the
first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or (iii) the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event.
(b) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be represented by
certificates for Common Shares (all of which certificates for Common Shares
shall be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right
Certificates, (ii) the record holder of the Common Shares represented by each of
such certificates shall be the record holder of the Rights represented thereby
and (iii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer
of Common Shares. Until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption
Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of such certificates for
Common Shares shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights
represented thereby.
(c) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, and after
notification by the Company, the Rights Agent shall send, at the expense of the
Company, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail to each record holder of Common
Shares, as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto representing one Right for each
---------
Common Share so held. From and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be
represented solely by such Right Certificates and may only be transferred by the
transfer of such Right Certificates, and the holders of such Right Certificates,
as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for
such Rights, shall be the record holders of such Rights.
(d) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time after the Record Date
and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date, shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of May 10, 1999 by and
between Amwest Insurance Group, Inc. and American Stock Transfer and Trust
Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), as amended to date, the
terms and conditions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of Amwest
Insurance Group,
6
<PAGE>
Inc. Under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights will be represented by separate certificates and will no longer be
represented by this certificate. Under certain circumstances specified in
the Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by certain persons may
become null and void. Amwest Insurance Group, Inc. will mail to the record
holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge
promptly following receipt of a written request therefor. As described in
the Rights Agreement, Rights Beneficially Owned by any Person who becomes a
15% Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of a 15% Stockholder (as such
capitalized terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) shall become null
and void.
(e) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time on or after the
Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise
affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate does not represent any Right issued pursuant to the terms
of a Rights Agreement dated as of May 10, 1999 by and between Amwest
Insurance Group, Inc. and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as
Rights Agent.
(f) In the event that at any time on or after the earlier of the date of
the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event
and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, the
Company shall issue any Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or options that
shall have been issued or granted prior to the earlier of the date of the first
Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, then,
unless the Board of Directors shall have provided otherwise at the time of the
issuance or grant of such conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
Rights), warrants or options, the Rights Agent shall, as soon as practicable
after the date of such event, send by first-class, postage-prepaid mail to the
record holder of such Common Shares, at the address of such holder as shown on
the records of the Company, a Right Certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto representing one Right for each Common Share so issued.
- ---------
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3, the Rights
Agent shall not countersign and deliver a Right Certificate to any Person if
such Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such Person,
Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)
hereof. Any determination made by the Board of Directors as to whether any
Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such Person,
Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)
hereof, shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, the Rights Agent, all
holders of Rights and all other securityholders of the Company.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates and the
--------------------------
form of assignment, including certificate, and the form of election to purchase,
including certificate, printed on the reverse thereof, when, as and if issued,
shall be substantially the same as Exhibit A hereto, and may have such marks of
---------
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
7
<PAGE>
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange upon which the
Rights or the securities of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Rights may
from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to Section 22
hereof, Right Certificates, whenever issued, that are issued in respect of
Common Shares that were issued and outstanding as of the Close of Business on
the Distribution Date, shall be dated as of the Distribution Date.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
---------------------------------
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or any
Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and may have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof attested by its Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not
be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the
Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be
such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates may nevertheless
be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who at the
actual date of such execution shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign
such Right Certificate, even though such person was not such an officer at the
date of the execution of this Agreement.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause
to be kept at its principal offices books for registration and transfer of the
Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of Right Certificates, the number of Rights
represented on its face by each Right Certificate and the date of each Right
Certificate.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
-----------------------------------------------------
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 6(c), 7(d) and 14 hereof, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and so long as the
Rights represented thereby remain outstanding, any one or more Right
Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for one or more
Right Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Rights as the Right
Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange one or more Right Certificates shall make such request in
writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of
the Rights Agent with the form of assignment, including certificate, on the
reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed.
Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled
thereto one or
8
<PAGE>
more Right Certificates, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
such Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall issue and deliver to the
Rights Agent for delivery to the record holder of such Right Certificate a new
Right Certificate of like tenor in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Right Certificate.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, the Rights
Agent shall not countersign and deliver a Right Certificate to any Person if
such Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such Person,
Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)
hereof. Any determination made by the Board of Directors as to whether any
Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such Person,
Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)
hereof, shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, the Rights Agent, all
holders of Rights and all other securityholders of the Company.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights.
------------------
(a) Until the Distribution Date, no Right may be exercised.
(b) Subject to Section 7(d) and (g) hereof and the other provisions of this
Agreement, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and
prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Rights Expiration Date, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights represented thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of
such Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase, including
certificate, on the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with
signature guaranteed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent at
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, 40 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005,
together with payment of the Exercise Price for each Right exercised. Upon the
exercise of an exercisable Right and payment of the Exercise Price in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, the holder of such Right shall be
entitled to receive, subject to adjustment as provided herein, one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share (or, following the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities).
(c) The "Exercise Price" for the exercise of each Right shall initially be
$100 and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in
accordance with Section 7(f) hereof. The Exercise Price and the number of
Preferred Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a
Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) to be acquired upon
exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 7(e), 11 and 13 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement.
9
<PAGE>
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date
of the first Section 13(a) Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned
by a 15% Stockholder at any time on or after the Distribution Date shall be null
and void, and for all purposes of this Agreement such Rights shall thereafter be
deemed not to be outstanding, and any holder of such Rights (whether or not such
holder is a 15% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 15% Stockholder)
shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer such Rights.
(e) Prior to the Distribution Date, if the Board of Directors shall have
determined that such action adequately protects the interests of the holders of
Rights, the Company may, in its discretion, substitute for all or any portion of
the Preferred Shares that would otherwise be issuable (after the Close of
Business on the Distribution Date) upon the exercise of each Right and payment
of the Exercise Price (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the Company,
(iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any combination
of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to
the aggregate Current Market Price of the Preferred Shares for which
substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the
Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 7(e), such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding Rights.
(f) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase, including certificate, completed and duly
executed, with signature guaranteed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise
Price for each Right to be exercised and an amount equal to any applicable
transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check or cashier's check payable
to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i)
requisition from the transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or, following the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares
and/or securities) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares (or such
other securities) to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, and/or, as provided in
Section 14 hereof, requisition from the depositary agent described therein
depositary receipts representing such number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (or such other securities) as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares (or such other securities) represented by
such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with such depositary
agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary agent to comply with such
request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash
to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Preferred Shares (or such other
securities) in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such
certificates, depositary receipts or cash, cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when
appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, the
exercisability of the Rights shall be suspended for such period as shall
reasonably be necessary for the Company to register and qualify under the
Securities Act and any applicable securities law of any jurisdiction the
Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Rights; provided,
--------
10
<PAGE>
however, that nothing contained in this Section 7 shall relieve the Company of
- -------
its obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.
(h) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all of the Rights represented thereby, a new Right Certificate
representing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be
issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or
to such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section
14 hereof.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All Right
--------------------------------------------------
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation
and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right
Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the
exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates
to the Company or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such
canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of
destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
---------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 9(f) hereof, the Company shall cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued equity securities
(or out of its authorized and issued equity securities held in its treasury),
the number of such equity securities that will from time to time be sufficient
to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) In the event that any securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights
are listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best
efforts, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, to cause all
such securities issued or reserved for such issuance to be listed on such
exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) If necessary to permit the issuance of securities upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall use its best efforts, from and after the Distribution
Date, to register and qualify such securities under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and to keep such
registration effective until the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date.
(d) The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure
that all securities delivered upon exercise of the Rights shall, at the time of
delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the
Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable securities.
(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and
state transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance
or delivery of the Right
11
<PAGE>
Certificates or of any securities upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax that may be payable in respect
of any transfer or delivery of a Right Certificate to a Person other than, or
the issuance or delivery of a certificate for securities in respect of a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate representing
Rights surrendered for exercise, or to issue or deliver any certificate for
securities upon the exercise of any Right until any such tax shall have been
paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(f) With respect to the Common Shares and/or other securities issuable
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) and (iii) hereof, the foregoing covenants shall be
applicable only upon and following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
Section 10. Securities Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
----------------------
certificate for securities of the Company is issued upon the exercise of Rights
shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the
securities represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date
- -------- -------
upon which the securities transfer books of the Company are closed, such person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such securities on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the
securities transfer books of the Company are open.
Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable Upon
------------------------------------------------------------
Exercise of Rights or Number of Rights. The Exercise Price, the number and kind
- --------------------------------------
of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a Right and the number of
Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the Close
of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the
earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date (A) declare or pay
any dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or Voting
Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the
outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or
(D) issue Preferred Shares or other securities of the Company (other than
those for which an adjustment is required under Section 11(b) hereof) in a
reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) or in a reorganization
of the Company, then, and upon each such event, the number and kind of
Preferred Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of a Right
on the date of such event shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
holder of any Right exercised on or after such date shall be entitled to
receive, upon the exercise thereof and payment of the Exercise Price, the
aggregate number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities or other
property, as the case may be, that, if such Right had been exercised
immediately prior to such date and at a time when such Right was
exercisable and the transfer books of the Company were open, such holder
would have owned upon
12
<PAGE>
such exercise and would have been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs
that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any
adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event that a 15% Ownership Date shall have occurred and
neither the Redemption Date nor the Expiration Date shall have occurred
prior to the tenth Business Day following such 15% Ownership Date (a
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), then, and upon each such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, proper provision shall be made so that, except as provided in
Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall thereafter (except as
provided in the next sentence) have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the
then current Exercise Price, such number of Common Shares of the Company as
shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current
Exercise Price by the then number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Section
11(a)(ii) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior
to the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share for which a Right would have been exercisable if the
Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding
the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and (B) dividing that product by
50% of the Current Market Price of a Common Share on the date of occurrence
of the relevant Section 11(a)(ii) Event. In the sole discretion of the
Board of Directors, with respect to any Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Company may substitute, in lieu of some or all of the Common Shares
receivable pursuant to the preceding sentence, (A) cash, (B) equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, fractions
of shares or units of shares of preferred stock and/or Common Shares of the
Company), (C) debt securities of the Company (D) other property or (E) any
combination of the foregoing (categories (A) through (E), inclusive, each a
"Common Share Substitute," constitute the "Common Share Substitutes"), in
each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the aggregate
Current Market Price of the Common Shares for which substitution is made.
Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company makes any
substitution pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights. Successive adjustments
shall be made pursuant to this paragraph each time a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event occurs.
(b) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, fix a record date for the issuance
of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
initially to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the
same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("Preferred
Share Equivalents")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
Preferred Share Equivalents, at a price per Preferred Share or Preferred Share
Equivalent (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible
into Preferred Shares or Preferred Share Equivalents) less than the Current
Market Price per Preferred Share on such record date, then, and upon each such
event,
13
<PAGE>
the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of the number of
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred
Shares that the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares
and/or Preferred Share Equivalents to be so offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be so offered) would
purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be
equal to the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the
number of additional Preferred Shares and/or Preferred Share Equivalents to be
offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities
to be so offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that if such
-----------------
rights, options or warrants are not exercisable immediately upon issuance but
become exercisable only upon the occurrence of a specified event or the passage
of a specified period of time, then the adjustment to the Exercise Price shall
be made and become effective only upon the occurrence of such event or such
passage of time, and such adjustment shall be made as if the record date for the
issuance of such rights, options or warrants had been the business day
immediately preceding the date upon which such rights, options or warrants
became exercisable. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.
Such adjustment to the Exercise Price shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so
issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would
then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, fix a record date for the making of
a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the surviving corporation) of assets (other than a distribution for
which an adjustment is required under Section 11(a)(i) or (b) hereof or a
regular quarterly cash dividend), then the Exercise Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be equal to the excess of the Current Market Price per Preferred Share on
such record date over and above the fair market value of the portion of the
securities or assets to be so distributed with respect to one Preferred Share,
and the denominator of which shall be equal to such Current Market Price per
Preferred Share. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such a distribution is not so made,
the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be
in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation under this Section 11, if the
Preferred Shares are not publicly held or traded, the "Current Market Price" per
Preferred Share shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Market Price per
Common Share multiplied by 1,000.
(e) No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the then
current Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that by reason
-------- -------
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made
14
<PAGE>
shall be cumulated and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All
calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the
nearest one-thousandth of a Common Share or other share or one-millionth of a
Preferred Share, as the case may be.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof,
the holder of any Right shall, upon exercise thereof, be entitled to receive any
securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, and if an event occurs in
respect of such securities that, if it were to occur in respect of Preferred
Shares, would require an adjustment under this Section 11 in respect of
Preferred Shares, then the number of such other securities so receivable upon
exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to Preferred Shares contained in this Section 11, and the other
provisions of this Agreement with respect to Preferred Shares shall apply on
like terms to any such other securities.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall represent the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i) below, upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of
the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter represent
the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a
Preferred Share) obtained by multiplying (i) the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to
such adjustment of the Exercise Price by (ii) the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment, and dividing the product so obtained by
the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Exercise Price, to adjust the number of Rights instead of making any adjustment
in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.
Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right
held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become
that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Right)
obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately
after such adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i), indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at
the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the
date on which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if
separate Right Certificates have been issued, it shall be at least 10 days after
the date of such public announcement. If separate Right Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Right
15
<PAGE>
Certificates on such record date Right Certificates representing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of such adjustment,
and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
representing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of one
Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Exercise Price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share and the
number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of one Right that were
expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Exercise Price below one one-thousandth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action that may, in the advice or opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise
Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer, until the occurrence of such event, the
issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the
number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of
the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that
-------- -------
the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate
instrument representing such holder's right to receive such additional shares
upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such further adjustments in the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share that may be purchased upon exercise of one
Right, and such further adjustments in the Exercise Price, in addition to those
adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the
Company in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any
(i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly
for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the Current Market Price thereof,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities that by their
terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends
on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or (v) issuance
16
<PAGE>
of rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof, hereafter
made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to
such stockholders.
(n) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of
Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earliest
of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the date of the first Section
13(a) Event, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, (i) pay any dividend on
the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding
Common Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number
of Common Shares or (iv) issue Common Shares in a reclassification of the Common
Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation),
then, and upon each such event, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such
event shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be
equal to the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such event
and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event. Successive adjustments shall be made
pursuant to this Section 11(n) each time such a dividend is paid or such a
subdivision, combination or reclassification is effected. If an event occurs
that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(n) and Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares
----------------------------------------------------------
Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in
- --------------------------------
Section 11 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting
forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to such
adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights a copy of such certificate and
(c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with
Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the
Company to make such certification or to give such notice shall not affect the
validity or the force and effect of such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made
pursuant to Sections 11 or 13 hereof shall be effective as of the date of the
event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected
in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained, and
shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall
it be deemed to have knowledge of such an adjustment unless and until it shall
have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
--------------------------------------------------------------
Power.
- -----
(a) In the event (a "Section 13(a) Event") that, at any time on or after
the 15% Ownership Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the
Expiration Date, (1) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with
or merge with and into any other Person and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation in such consolidation or merger, (2) any
Person shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into
the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in
such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common
Shares shall be
17
<PAGE>
changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any Person or cash or
any other property, or (3) the Company and/or any one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise transfer, in one
or more transactions (other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business), assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
Person or Persons other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries (such Persons, together with the Persons described in clauses (1)
and (2) above shall be collectively referred to in this Section as the
"Surviving Person"), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made
so that:
(i) except as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then current
Exercise Price, in lieu of the securities or other property otherwise
purchasable upon such exercise, such number of validly authorized and
issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Surviving Person
(and if such Surviving Person has more than one class or series of Common
Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable Common Shares of each series or class) as shall be equal to a
fraction, the numerator of which is the product of the then current
Exercise Price multiplied by the number of one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to the
first Section 13(a) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have
occurred prior to the date of such Section 13(a) Event, the number of one-
thousandths of a Preferred Share that would have been so purchasable if the
Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding
the date of such Section 13(a) Event, or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has
occurred prior to such Section 13(a) Event, the product of the number of
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the
date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share that would have been so purchasable if the Distribution
Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of
such Section 11(a)(ii) Event) immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, multiplied by the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and the denominator of which is 50% of the
Current Market Price per Common Share of the Surviving Person on the date
of consummation of such Section 13(a) Event;
(ii) the Surviving Person shall thereafter be liable for and shall
assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the
obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company " shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the
Surviving Person; and
(iv) the Surviving Person shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as
may be necessary to ensure that the
18
<PAGE>
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of Rights.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Section 13(a) Event is the sale
or transfer in one or more transactions of assets or earning power aggregating
more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole), but less than 100% thereof, then each Person acquiring all
or a portion thereof shall assume the obligations of the Company as to a
fraction of each of the Rights equal to the fraction of the assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) acquired by such Person, and the
obligations of the Company as to the remaining fraction of each of the Rights
shall continue to be the obligations of the Company.
(c) The Company shall not consummate a Section 13(a) Event unless prior
thereto the Company and the Surviving Person shall have executed and delivered
to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Surviving
Person shall, upon consummation of such Section 13(a) Event, assume this
Agreement in accordance with Section 13 hereof, that all rights of first refusal
or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such
Surviving Person upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived and that
such Section 13(a) Event shall not result in a default by such Surviving Person
under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after
the date of consummation of such Section 13(a) Event, such Surviving Person
shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements
of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with
all applicable state securities laws;
(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the
Rights and the Common Shares of the Surviving Person purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange, or use its best
efforts to cause the Rights and such Common Shares to meet the eligibility
requirements for quotation on NASDAQ; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for such Surviving Person that comply in all respects with the
requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the
Exchange Act.
(d) In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised pursuant
to Section 11 hereof prior to the date of a Section 13(a) Event, such Rights
shall thereafter be exercisable only in the manner described in Section 13(a)
hereof. In the event that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs on or after the date
of a Section 13(a) Event, Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 11
hereof but shall instead be exercisable pursuant to, and only pursuant to, this
Section 13.
19
<PAGE>
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to each successive
merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer constituting a Section 13(a)
Event.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates that represent fractional Rights. If the Company
shall determine not to issue such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to
the registered holders of the Right Certificates with respect to which such
fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, at the time such fractional
Rights would otherwise have been issued as provided herein, an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Right on the
Business Day immediately prior to the date upon which such fractional Rights
would otherwise have been issuable.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
or Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of Rights, or to distribute
certificates that represent fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other
than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
represented by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of
Preferred Shares. If the Company shall determine not to issue fractional Common
Shares or Preferred Shares (or depositary receipts in lieu of Preferred Shares),
the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates with
respect to which such fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares would
otherwise be issuable, at the time such Rights are exercised as provided herein,
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a
whole Common Share or Preferred Share, as the case may be. For purposes of this
Section 14(b), the Current Market Price of a whole Common Share or Preferred
Share shall be the Closing Price per share for the Trading Day immediately prior
to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of such Right, expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
Common Shares or Preferred Shares upon exercise of such Right, except as
permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
----------------
Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section
18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates and certificates for Common Shares representing Rights, and any
registered holder of any Right Certificate or of such certificate for Common
Shares, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Right Certificate or any other certificate for Common Shares may, in such
holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the
20
<PAGE>
Rights represented by such Right Certificate or by such certificate for Common
Shares in the manner provided in such Certificate and in this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is
specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations, of
the obligations of any Person under this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
--------------------------
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented by
certificates for Common Shares registered in the name of the holders of such
Common Shares (which certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute Right
Certificates), and each such Right shall be transferable only in connection with
the transfer of such Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates shall only be
transferable on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper
instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name the Right Certificate is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of
the Rights represented thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificate by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent
shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 17. Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a
------------------------------------------------------
Stockholder. No holder, as such, of any Right or Right Certificate shall be
- -----------
entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
the securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable upon the exercise
of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right or Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, in each case until such Right or the
Rights represented by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of
the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful
21
<PAGE>
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the
Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of
liability. The indemnification provided for hereunder shall survive the
expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected and
shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in
reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Preferred Shares or
Common Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment
or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice,
direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or document believed
by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
its counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event
shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even
if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage
and regardless of the form of the action.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
---------------------------------------------------------
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. If, at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency
created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Right Certificates
shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign
such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in such Right Certificate and in
this Agreement.
(b) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed, and at
such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the
Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement.
22
<PAGE>
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
----------------------
and obligations imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations
shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent) upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right
Certificates, by their acceptance of the Rights, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may consult
with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or
opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer,
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the
Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights
Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions
of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other
Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement, or in the Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof), or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the
due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including any Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 7(d)
hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner,
method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 7, 11, 13 and 23 hereof, or
the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights represented by Right
Certificates after actual notice that such change or adjustment is required);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares or
Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any
Right Certificate, or as to whether any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or
other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
23
<PAGE>
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice
President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the
Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection
with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer
or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any
application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may,
at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to
be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or
after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The
Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the
Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on
or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less
than ten Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually
receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received
written instructions from the Company in response to such application to the
contrary.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under
this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in
any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided that reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to
have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation,
any dates or events defined in
24
<PAGE>
this Agreement or the designation of any Person as a 15% Stockholder,
Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent
shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or
determination.
(l) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
----------------------
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30-days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and,
at the expense of the Company to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-
class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent upon 30-days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common
Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign
or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting as such, the Company
shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make
such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal
or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by
the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right
Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Right Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then the Company shall become the Rights Agent
and the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor
Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the State of New York (or of any other state of the United States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the
State of New York) in good standing, having a principal office in New York, that
is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and that has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor
Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose of this Agreement and so that the successor Rights Agent may
appropriately act as Rights Agent hereunder. Not later than the effective date
of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with
the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and
Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
25
<PAGE>
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
----------------------------------
provisions of this Agreement or of the Right Certificates to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates in such form as may be
approved by the Board of Directors in order to reflect any adjustment or change
in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other
securities or property purchasable upon exercise of the Rights in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption of Rights.
--------------------
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event or (iii) the Expiration
Date, the Board of Directors may, at its option, authorize and direct the
redemption of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at a
redemption price of $.001 per Right, as such redemption price shall be
appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof (the "Redemption Price"), and the
Company shall so redeem the Rights.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing and
directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 23, or at such time and date thereafter as it may specify, and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of
such action, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the holders of
Rights by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses
as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed
given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure
to give any such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or
validity of such redemption. Each such notice of redemption shall state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the
Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may, directly or indirectly,
redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in Section 24 hereof or in this Section 23, or in
connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the earlier of the date
of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a)
Event.
(c) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
Common Shares, Preferred Shares, other equity securities of the Company, debt
securities of the Company, other property or any combination of the foregoing,
in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price on the Redemption Date
equal to the Redemption Price.
Section 24. Exchange of Rights.
------------------
(a) At any time during the period of 180 days after a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, authorize and direct
the exchange of each of the then outstanding Rights for Common Shares or Common
Share Substitutes, or any combination of the foregoing (all as determined in the
sole discretion of the Board of Directors), having an aggregate Current Market
Price equal to the result obtained by (i) multiplying the Current Market
26
<PAGE>
Price per Common Share on the record date for such exchange by the number of
Common Shares for which a Right is exercisable on such record date and (ii)
subtracting from such product the Exercise Price on such Record Date, and the
Company shall so exchange the Rights. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the
event that the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 24, such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors authorizing and
directing the exchange of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
24, or at such time and date thereafter as it may specify, and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive such number of Common Shares and/or Common Share Substitutes determined
in accordance with Section 24(a) hereof. Within ten (10) Business Days after
the date of such action, the Company shall give notice of such exchange to the
holders of Rights by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last
addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
the Common Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but
neither the failure to give any such notice nor any defect therein shall affect
the legality or validity of such exchange. Each such notice of exchange shall
state the method by which the Rights will be exchanged for Common Shares and/or
Common Share Substitutes.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In the event that the Company shall propose (i) to declare or pay any
dividend on or make any distribution with respect to its Common Shares or
Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer
to the holders of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares options, rights or
warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares thereof or shares
of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to
effect any reclassification of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than
a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares), (iv)
to effect any consolidation or merger with or into, or to effect any sale or
other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale
or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, then and in each such case, the Company shall give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of such proposed action that shall specify the record date for the
purpose of such dividend or distribution, or the date upon which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein
by the holders of record of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, if any such
date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 20 days prior to the record date
for determining holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares for purposes of
such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to
the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, whichever date
shall be the earlier.
27
<PAGE>
The failure to give the notice required by this Section 25 or any defect therein
shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or
the vote upon any such action.
(b) Upon the occurrence of each Section 11(a)(ii) Event and each Section
13(a) Event, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of
the occurrence of such event, specifying the event and the consequences of the
event to holders of Rights under Sections 11 and 13 hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be
-------
given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to
or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Amwest Insurance Group, Inc.
5230 Las Virgenes Road
Calabasas, CA 91302
Attention: General Counsel
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made to or on the Rights Agent (i) by the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent, postage prepaid, by
registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of the Rights
Agent as set forth below (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) or (ii) by the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
principal office of the Rights Agent as set forth below (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company), and shall be deemed given upon actual
receipt. The Company hereby agrees that it shall encourage the holders of the
Right Certificates, in any and all writings to such holders regarding the Rights
or this Agreement, to give or make any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement by registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of
the Rights Agent as follows (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company):
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
40 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Attention: General Counsel
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
28
<PAGE>
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.
--------------------------
(a) The Board of Directors may, from time to time, without the approval of
any holders of Rights, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in
any manner, whether or not such supplement or amendment is adverse to any holder
of Rights, and direct the Rights Agent so to supplement or amend such provision,
and the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such provision; provided,
--------
however, that from and after the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section
- -------
11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, (iii) the
Redemption Date or (iv) the Expiration Date, this Agreement shall not be
supplemented or amended in any manner that would materially and adversely affect
any holder of outstanding Rights other than a 15% Stockholder or a Surviving
Person.
(b) From and after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the Rights
Expiration Date, the Company shall not effect any amendment to the Articles
Supplementary for the Preferred Shares that would materially and adversely
affect the rights, privileges or preferences of the Preferred Shares without the
prior approval of the holders of two-thirds or more of the then outstanding
Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent
under this Agreement in any manner adverse to the Rights Agent will be effective
against the Rights Agent without the execution of such supplement or amendment
by the Rights Agent.
Section 28. Certain Covenants. Subject to Section 27 hereof and the other
-----------------
provisions of this Agreement, from and after the earlier of the date of the
first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and
prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, the Company
shall not (a) issue or sell, or permit any Subsidiary to issue or sell, to a 15%
Stockholder or a Surviving Person, or any Affiliate or Associate of a 15%
Stockholder or a Surviving Person, or any Person holding Voting Shares of the
Company that are Beneficially Owned by a 15% Stockholder or a Surviving Person,
(i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible securities on terms similar to,
or that materially adversely affect the value of, the Rights or (ii) Preferred
Shares, Common Shares or shares of any other class of capital stock, if such
sale is intended to or would materially adversely affect the value of the
Rights, or (b) take any other action that is intended to or would materially
adversely affect the value of the Rights.
Section 29. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
----------
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
--------------------------
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Right Certificates (other than those representing
Rights that have become null and void) and the certificates for Common Shares
representing Rights (other than those Rights that have become null and void) any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement, and this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights
Agent and such registered holders of Right Certificates and certificates for
Common Shares representing Rights.
29
<PAGE>
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
------------
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
30
<PAGE>
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
-------------
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made and
performed entirely within such state, except as to the rights and obligations of
the Rights Agent which shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
counterparts and each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
--------------------
sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Attest:
By: /s/ KAREN G. COHEN By: /s/ JOHN SAVAGE
--------------------------- ------------------------------
Name: Karen G. Cohen Name: John Savage
Title: Corporate Secretary Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY,
as Rights Agent
Attest:
By: /s/ SUSAN SILBER By: /s/ HERBERT LEMMER
--------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: Susan Silber Name: Herbert Lemmer
Title: Assistant Secretary Title: Vice President and General
Counsel
31
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R______________ ______________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER May 10, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY
THE CORPORATION. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE
CORPORATION, AT $.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A 15% STOCKHOLDER OR
AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A 15% STOCKHOLDER (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND
VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME A 15% STOCKHOLDER OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A 15% STOCKHOLDER (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(d) OF SUCH AGREEMENT./*/]
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
This certifies that ___________________________________, or registered
assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each
of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of May 10, 1999 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between Amwest Insurance Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, a New York
corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Corporation at any time
prior to 5:00 P.M. (Eastern time) on May 10, 2009 at the office or offices of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent,
one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") of the Corporation, at a purchase price of $100 per one one-
thousandth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of
this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related
Certificate duly executed. The Purchase Price may be paid by bank draft,
certified bank check or money order payable to the order of the Corporation.
- ----------------------
/*/ The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable, shall be modified to apply to a 15% Stockholder, and shall replace
the preceding sentence.
32
<PAGE>
The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number
of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the
Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as
of May 10, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
Beneficially Owned by (i) a 15% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a
15% Stockholder (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of a 15% Stockholder, (or of any such Associate or Affiliate), or
(iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a
transferee of a 15% Stockholder (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the 15% Stockholder becoming
such, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any
right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section
11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and
kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
15% Ownership Dates (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
The 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, and obligations, duties and immunities of the Rights
Agent, the Corporation and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of Rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the office of the Rights Agent and
are also available upon written request to the Corporation.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate amount of securities as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be (i) redeemed by the Corporation at its option at a
redemption price of $.001 per Right or (ii) exchanged by the Corporation in
whole or part for Common Shares, substantially equivalent rights, or other
consideration as determined by the Corporation.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth
33
<PAGE>
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Corporation, be
evidenced by depository receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Preferred
Stock or of any other securities of the Corporation which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meeting or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
The Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of _____________, ____
The "Corporation":
(Seal) AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a
Delaware corporation
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
The "Rights Agent":
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER AND TRUST COMPANY,
a New York corporation
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
34
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder
if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________ hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
________________________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of
substitution.
DATED:
----------------------- ---------------------------------------
(Signature)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
---------------------------------------
(Signature)
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) This Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was a 15% Stockholder or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to
the Rights Agreement);
(2) After due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became a 15% Stockholder
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
DATED:
--------------------- ------------------------------------------
(Signature)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
------------------------------------------
(Signature)
<PAGE>
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(TO BE EXECUTED IF HOLDER DESIRES TO EXERCISE
RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THE RIGHTS CERTIFICATE)
TO: AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
_______________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Corporation or of any other Person which may be issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name
of and delivered to:
Name and Address:
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Social Security or
Other Identifying Number:
-----------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Name and Address:
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
Social Security or
Other Identifying Number:
-----------------------------------------
DATED:
-------------------- -----------------------------------------
(Signature)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
-----------------------------------------
(Signature)
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) This Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was a 15% Stockholder or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to
the Rights Agreement);
(2) After due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became a 15% Stockholder
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
DATED:
------------------- -----------------------------------------
(Signature)
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:
-----------------------------------------
(Signature)
1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.2
AMENDED CERTIFICATE TO THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK
OF
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
The undersigned, John Savage, the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer
of AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"),
does hereby certify that:
No shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
described in the Certificate of Designation filed with the Secretary of State of
Delaware on May 17, 1989, have been issued.
Pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, and Section 151(g) of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, on May 5, 1999, the Board of Directors adopted
the following resolution to amend, effective as of 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight
Time, on May 10, 1999, the Certificate of Designation of the Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, filed with
the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 17, 1989 so that such Certificate of
Designation shall, upon effectiveness of this Certificate of Amendment of such
Certificate of Designation, read in its entirety as follows:
"RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board
of Directors does hereby provide for the amendment, effective as of 5:00
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on May 10, 1999, of the Certificate of
Designation of the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 17, 1989. Such shares
of preferred stock shall continue to be designated "Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock" (hereinafter referred to as the
"Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock"), consisting of
30,000 shares, and to the extent that the designations, powers, preferences
and relative and other special rights and qualifications, limitations and
restrictions of the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock are not stated and expressed in the Certificate of Incorporation, the
Board of Directors of the Corporation does hereby fix and herein state and
express such designations, powers, preferences, and relative and other
special rights and qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof as
follows:
1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
----------------------
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock"
and
<PAGE>
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 30,000. Such number
of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of
Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock to a number less
than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(a) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock in preference to the holders of
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation (the
"Common Stock") and of any other junior stock of the Corporation that then
may be outstanding, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared
by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose,
quarterly dividends payable in cash on the 10th day of January, April,
July, and October of each year (each a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first
issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest
cent) equal to the greater of (a) $2.50 per share ($10.00 per annum) or (b)
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock
or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after May
10, 1999 (the "Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare or pay any dividend on
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide, by
reclassification or otherwise, the outstanding Common Stock into a greater
number of shares of Common Stock or (iii) combine or consolidate, by
reclassification or otherwise, the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to
which holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding
2
<PAGE>
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock as provided in
paragraph (a) of this Section 2 as a condition to declaration of a dividend
or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event that no dividend or
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period
between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $2.50 per share ($10.00 per
annum) on the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such
shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, unless
the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the
date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of
which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from
such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
cumulate but shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock in an amount less
than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all
such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not
more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
-------------
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have the following voting
rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes (and each one one-
thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote) on all matters
submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event
the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
3
<PAGE>
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide, by reclassification or otherwise,
the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) combine or consolidate, by reclas sification or otherwise,
the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, holders of Series
A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have no special
voting rights and the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall
vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) In addition, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall have the following special voting rights:
In the event that at any time dividends on Series A Preferred Stock,
whenever accrued and whether or not consecutive, shall not have been paid
or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, in an
amount equivalent to six quarterly dividends on all shares of Series A
Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, then and in each such event, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each other series of
preferred stock now or hereafter issued that shall be accorded such class
voting right by the Board of Directors and that shall have the right to
elect three or more directors as the result of a prior or subsequent
default in payment of dividends on such series (each such other series
being hereinafter called "Other Series of Preferred Stock"), voting
separately as a class without regard to series, shall be entitled to elect
three directors at the next annual meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation or at a special meeting as provided below, in addition to the
directors to be elected by the holders of all shares of the Corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors, and the holders of all
shares (including the Series A Preferred Stock) otherwise entitled to vote
for directors, voting separately as a class, shall be entitled to elect the
remaining members of the Board of Directors, provided that the Series A
Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock, voting as a
class, shall not have the right to elect more than three directors. Such
special voting right of the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
may be exercised until all dividends in default on the Series A Preferred
Stock shall have been paid in full or declared and funds sufficient
therefor set aside, and when so paid or provided for, such special voting
right of the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall cease, but
subject always to the same provisions for the vesting of such special
4
<PAGE>
voting rights in the event of any such future dividend default or defaults. At
any time after such special voting rights shall have so vested in the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, the Secretary of the Corporation may, and
upon the written request of the holders of record of 10% or more in number of
the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock
then outstanding addressed to the Secretary at the principal executive office of
the Corporation shall, call a special meeting of the holders of shares of
Preferred Stock so entitled to vote, for the election of the directors to be
elected by them as herein provided, to be held within 60 days after such call
and at the place and upon the notice provided by law and in the Bylaws for the
holding of meetings of stockholders; provided, however, that the Secretary shall
not be required to call such special meeting in the case of any such request
received less than 90 days before the date fixed for any annual meeting of
stockholders, and if in such case such special meeting is not called or held,
the holders of shares of Preferred Stock so entitled to vote shall be entitled
to exercise the special voting rights provided in this paragraph at such annual
meeting. If any such special meeting required to be called as above provided
shall not be called by the Secretary within 30 days after receipt of any such
request, then the holders of record of 10% or more in number of the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock then
outstanding may designate in writing one of their number to call such meeting,
and the person so designated may, at the expense of the Corporation, call such
meeting to be held at the place and upon the notice given by such person, and
for that purpose shall have access to the stock books of the Corporation. No
such special meting and no adjournment thereof shall be held on a date later
than 60 days before the annual meeting of stockholders. If, at any special
meeting so called or at any annual meeting held while the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock have the special voting rights provided for in this
paragraph, the holders of not less than 40% of the shares of Series A Preferred
Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock then outstanding are present in
person or by proxy, which percentage shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum
for the election of additional directors as herein provided, the then authorized
number of directors of the Corporation shall be increased by three, as of the
time of such special meeting or the time of the first such annual meting held
while such holders have special voting rights and such quorum is present, and
the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of
Preferred Stock, voting as a class, shall be entitled to elect the additional
directors so provided for. If the directors of the Corporation are then divided
into classes under provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation then effective or the Bylaws then effective, the three additional
directors shall be members of those respective classes of directors in which a
vacancy is created as a result of such increase in the authorized number of
directors. If the foregoing expansion of the size of the Board of Directors
shall not be valid under applicable law, then the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock and of each Other Series of Preferred Stock, voting as a class,
shall be entitled, at the meeting of stockholders at which they would otherwise
have voted, to elect directors to fill any then existing vacancies
5
<PAGE>
on the Board of Directors, and shall additionally be entitled, at such meeting
and each subsequent meeting of stockholders at which directors are elected, to
elect all of the directors then being elected until by such class vote three
members of the Board of Directors have been so elected. Upon the election at
such meeting by the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other
Series of Preferred Stock, voting as a class, of the directors they are entitled
so to elect, the persons so elected, together with such persons as may be
directors or as may have been elected as directors by the holders of all shares
(including Series A Preferred Stock) otherwise entitled to vote for directors,
shall constitute the duly elected directors of the Corporation. The additional
directors so elected by holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each
Other Series of Preferred Stock, voting as a class, shall serve until the next
annual meeting and until their respective successors shall be elected and
qualified, or if any such director is a member of a class of directors under
provisions dividing the directors into classes, each such director shall serve
until the annual meeting at which the term of office of such director's class
shall expire and until such director's successor shall be elected and shall
qualify, and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders at which the
directorship of any director elected by the vote of holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock under the special
voting rights set forth in this paragraph is up for election, said special class
voting rights shall apply in the reelection of such director or in the election
of such director's successor; provided, however, that whenever the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock
shall be divested of the special rights to elect three directors as above
provided, the terms of office of all persons elected as directors by the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock,
voting as a class, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death,
resignation, or removal of directors so elected by the holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock, shall
forthwith terminate (and, if applicable, the number of directors shall be
reduced accordingly). If, at any time after a special meeting of stockholders or
an annual meeting at which the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and
each Other Series of Preferred Stock, voting as a class, have elected directors
as provided above, and while the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
and each Other Series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled so to elect three
directors, the number of directors who have been elected by the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock (or
who by reason of one or more resignations, deaths or removals have succeeded any
directors so elected) shall by reason of resignation, death or removal be less
than three but at least one, the vacancy in the directors so elected by the
holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of
Preferred Stock may be filled by the remaining director elected by such holders,
and in the event that such election shall not occur within 30 days after such
vacancy arises, or in the event that there shall not be incumbent at least one
director so elected by such holders, the Secretary of the Corporation may, and
upon the written request of the holders of record of 10% or more in number of
the shares of Series A Preferred
6
<PAGE>
Stock and each Other Series of Preferred Stock then outstanding addressed to the
Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation shall, call a special
meeting of the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other
Series of Preferred Stock so entitled to vote, for an election to fill such
vacancy or vacancies, to be held within 60 days after such call and at the place
and upon the notice provided by law and in the Bylaws for the holding of
meetings of stockholders; provided, however, that the Secretary shall not be
required to call such special meeting in the case of any such request received
less than 90 days before the date fixed for any annual meeting of stockholders,
and if in such case such special meeting is not called, the holders of shares of
Preferred Stock so entitled to vote shall be entitled to fill such vacancy or
vacancies at such annual meeting. If any such special meeting required to be
called as above provided shall not be called by the Secretary within 30 days
after receipt of any such request, then the holders of record of 10% or more in
number of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock and each Other Series of
Preferred Stock then outstanding may designate in writing one of their number to
call such meeting, and the person so designated may, at the expense of the
Corporation, call such meeting to be held at the place and upon the notice above
provided, and for that purpose shall have access to the stock books of the
Corporation. No such special meeting and no adjournment thereof shall be held on
a date later than 60 days before the annual meeting of stockholders.
4. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock as
provided in Section 2 hereof are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued
---------
and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock outstanding shall have
been paid in full, the Corporation shall not and shall cause its subsidiaries
not to, directly or indirectly:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distribution on,
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on
any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which
dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which
the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
7
<PAGE>
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of
any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock;
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, or any
shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock, except (i) in exchange for shares of any stock of
the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock, or (ii) in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or
by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such
shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the
respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of
the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4,
---------
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior Participating
-----------------
Cumulative Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in
any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the
acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock, without designation as to
series, and may be reissued as Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock or as part of any series of Preferred Stock created by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions
and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
--------------------------------------
(a) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to: (i) the holders of
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock shall have received the greater of
8
<PAGE>
(A) $10 per share ($.01 per one one-thousandth), plus an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of such payment or (B) an aggregate amount per share, equal to 1,000
(subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth (as so adjusted,
the "Adjustment Number")), times the aggregate amount to be distributed per
share to holders of shares of Common Stock (the "Series A Liquidation
Preference"); or (ii) the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series
A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred
Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. Following the payment of the full amount of the
Series A Liquidation Preference and the payment to holders of such parity stock
in respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock and such parity stock, no additional distribution shall be made
to the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock or such parity stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Common Amount") equal
to the quotient obtained by dividing the Series A Liquidation Preference by the
Adjustment Number. Following the payment of the full amount of the Series A
Liquidation Preference, the payment to holders of such parity stock and the
payment of the Common Amount in respect of all outstanding shares of Series A
Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, such parity stock and Common
Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
Preferred Stock, holders of such parity stock and holders of shares of Common
Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of remaining assets to
be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to one (1) with respect to
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock and Common Stock on a
per share basis, respectively.
(b) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available
to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the
liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, which
rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of
the Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock and of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(c) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide, by reclassification or otherwise, the
outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or
(iii) combine or consolidate, by reclassification or otherwise, the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction, the numerator
9
<PAGE>
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any
--------------------------
consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of
Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash
and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly
exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of
stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case
may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide, by reclassification or otherwise, the
outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or
(iii) combine or consolidate, by reclassification or otherwise, the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange
or change of shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
-------------
Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock
-------
shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation's preferred stock
(unless provided to the contrary in the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation then effective or in the Certificate of Designation relating to a
subsequent series of preferred stock of the Corporation), if any, as to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, and senior to the Common
Stock of the Corporation.
10. Amendment. If any shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
---------
Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation then effective shall not be amended in any manner that would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock, voting separately as a single series.
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<PAGE>
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Cumulative
-----------------
Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share, which shall entitle
the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise
voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have
the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock.
RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Chief Executive Officer, the President or
any Executive Vice President or Vice President or the Secretary of the
Corporation be, and they hereby are, authorized and directed to prepare and
file a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designation of the
Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock in accordance with
the foregoing resolution and the provisions of Delaware law, which
Certificate of Amendment shall be effective at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight
Time, on May 10, 1999, and to take such actions as they may deem necessary
or appropriate to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolution."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended Certificate to the Certificate of
Designation is executed on May 10, 1999.
AMWEST INSURANCE GROUP, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ JOHN SAVAGE
---------------------------------
Name: John Savage
Title: President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer
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