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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): AUGUST 13, 1998
PLEXUS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
WISCONSIN 0-14824 39-1344447
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
55 JEWELERS PARK DRIVE, NEENAH, WI 54957-0156
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
920-722-3451
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ITEM 5 OTHER MATTERS
On August 13, 1998, the Board of Directors of Plexus Corp., a Wisconsin
corporation, adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan. Under the Rights Plan, Plexus
shareholders of record as of August 27, 1998, (the "Rights Plan") will be
granted a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding
share of Plexus common stock. Subject to the terms of the Rights Plan, each
Right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a
share of Plexus' new series of preferred stock at an exercise price of $108.00.
Until Rights become exercisable, outstanding Plexus stock certificates will
represent both shares of Plexus common stock and Rights, (no separate
certificate will be issued for the Rights at this time). Rights will trade with
the shares of Plexus common stock until such time as they might become
exercisable.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Incorporated Herein Filed
Exhibit No. Description By Reference To Herewith
- ----------- ----------- --------------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
4.1 Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of August 13,
1998, between Plexus Corp. and Firstar
Trust Company, as Rights Agent (with Exhibits). X
4.2 Form of Rights Certificate (attached as
Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement). X
99.1 Form of Letter to Shareholders announcing
adoption of the Rights Agreement (attached as
Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement). X
99.2 Press Release, dated August 14, 1998 X
</TABLE>
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
PLEXUS CORP.
By: /s/ Peter Strandwitz
-------------------------------------
Peter Strandwitz
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
Date: August 13, 1998.
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SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 13, 1998
between
PLEXUS CORP.
and
FIRSTAR TRUST CO.
as Rights Agent
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SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDERS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of August
13, 1998 between Plexus Corp., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and
Firstar Trust Co., a Wisconsin-chartered trust company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") desires to
provide all shareholders of the Company with the opportunity to benefit from the
long-term prospects and value of the Company and to ensure that all such
shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed
takeover of the Company; and
WHEREAS, on August 13, 1998, the Board authorized and declared a dividend
of one preferred stock purchase right (individually a "Right" and collectively
the "Rights") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding at the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on August
27, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, and contemplates that one Right
will be issued with respect to each share of Common Stock which shall become
outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption
Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined),
including any shares of Common Stock issued by reason of the exercise of any
option, warrant, right (other than the Rights) or conversion or exchange
privilege contained in any option, warrant, right (other than the Rights) or
convertible or exchangeable security issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined), unless the Board shall expressly
provide to the contrary at the time of issuance of any such option, warrant,
right or convertible or exchangeable security;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Certain Definitions
1.1 Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as hereinafter defined) who
or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as hereinafter defined)
of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, but shall
not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as hereinafter
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defined) of the Company, (iii) any employee stock ownership plan, employee
benefit plan or other compensation program or arrangement of the Company or any
Subsidiary, or (iv) any Person holding such shares of Common Stock for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, program or arrangement set forth in
(iii) above (collectively, "Exempt Persons"). Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, (A) no Person shall become an Acquiring Person as the result of an
acquisition by the Company of shares of its Common Stock which, by reason of
reducing the number of then outstanding shares of Common Stock, increases the
percentage of then outstanding shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such
Person to 15% or more; provided, however, that if such Person shall, after such
acquisition by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined)
of any additional shares of Common Stock of the Company, then such Person shall
be deemed to be an Acquiring Person, and (B) an Acquiring Person shall not
include any Person who is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common
Stock without any plan or intention to seek or affect control of the Company, if
such Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest,
and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power,
including voting, with respect to such shares) sufficient shares of Common Stock
(or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common
Stock), so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock or is an institutional investor who files
only Schedule 13G and not a Schedule 13D, in which case such Person shall then
be deemed never to have become an Acquiring Person.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 (as may be amended from time to time)
promulgated under the Exchange Act (as hereinafter defined); provided, however,
that no director or officer of the Company shall be deemed an Affiliate or
Associate of any other director or officer of the Company solely as a result of
his or her being a director or officer of the Company.
(c) "Beneficial Owner" (including the terms "Beneficially Own" and
"Beneficial Ownership"), when used with respect to any Person, shall be deemed
to include any securities which:
(i) such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (determined as provided in Rule 13d-3
as may be amended from time to time promulgated under the Exchange Act);
(ii) such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates,
directly or indirectly, has:
(A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction
of any conditions, or both) pursuant to any written or oral agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and
among underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona
fide public offering of securities), upon the exercise of any options,
warrants, rights (other than the Rights) or conversion or exchange
privileges or
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otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own securities tendered
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, and
securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights at any time prior to
the Distribution Date, or
(B) the right to vote pursuant to any written or oral agreement,
arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall
not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any
security otherwise subject to this item (B) if such agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote arises solely from a revocable
proxy or consent given to such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, and is not also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D (or any comparable or
successor report then in effect) under the Exchange Act, or
(C) the right to dispose of pursuant to any written or oral
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and among underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities); or
(iii) 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 written or oral agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than
customary agreements with and among underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to
Section 1.1(c)(ii)(B) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 1.1(c)(i) hereof, no director or
officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the
Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, shares of Common Stock or other
securities of the Company beneficially owned by any other director or officer of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries solely as a result of his or her being a
director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Wisconsin are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Certificate of Designations" shall mean the Certificate of
Designations for the Preferred Shares in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A.
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(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Wisconsin
time, on such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, then 5:00 P.M.,
Wisconsin time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock," when used with reference to the Company, shall mean
the Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company. "Common Stock," when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company, shall mean the capital
stock with the greatest voting power (or the other equity securities or equity
interests having the power to control or direct management) of such Person or,
if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, of the Person which ultimately
controls such first-mentioned Person and which has issued and outstanding such
capital stock, equity securities or equity interests.
(h) "Disinterested Director" shall mean any member of the Board who is not
a Restricted Person (as hereinafter defined), or a representative or nominee of
a Restricted Person, who was a member of the Board as of the date of this
Agreement, or any individual who subsequently becomes a member of the Board
after the date of this Agreement who is not a Restricted Person, or a
representative or nominee of a Restricted Person, if such individual's
nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or approved by a
majority of the Disinterested Directors then in office.
(i) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(j) "Fair Market Value," when used with respect to Preferred Shares or
shares of Common Stock or other capital stock of any class (collectively, the
"Stock"), to any option, warrant, right or other security or evidence of
indebtedness (collectively, a "Security") or to any other property, shall be
determined as follows:
(i) In the case of any Stock or Security which is publicly traded,
the Fair Market Value on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily
closing prices per share of such Stock or per unit of such Security for the 30
consecutive Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such
date; provided, however, that in the event that the Fair Market Value per share
of any Stock is determined during a period commencing after the public
announcement by its issuer of a dividend or distribution on such Stock payable
in shares of such Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of such Stock or a subdivision, combination, consolidation or
reclassification of such Stock, and ending prior to the expiration of the 30
Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or
the record date for such subdivision, combination, consolidation or
reclassification, then, in each such case, the Fair Market Value of such Stock
shall be properly adjusted to take into account "ex-dividend" trading. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case no such sale shall take 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, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the
principal national securities exchange on
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which such Stock or Security is listed or admitted to trading; or if such Stock
or 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 last
quoted high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by Nasdaq or any other similar system then in use; or if on any such day no bid
for such Stock or Security is quoted by any such organization, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices, as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in such Stock or Security or other knowledgeable person as
selected by the Board. If during any relevant period no market maker is making a
market in such Stock or Security, its Fair Market Value on a specified date
shall be determined reasonably and with good faith to the holders of the Rights
by the Board; provided, however, that if at the time of such determination there
shall be an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of such Stock or Security on
such date shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Board, which determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent and the holders of the Rights.
(ii) In the case of any Stock or Security which is not publicly
traded, the Fair Market Value on any date shall be the fair value per share of
such Stock or per unit of such Security as determined reasonably and with utmost
good faith to the holders of the Rights by the Board; provided, however, that if
at the time of such determination there shall be an Acquiring Person, the Fair
Market Value of such Stock or Security on such date shall be determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board, which
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
(iii) In the case of any property which is not a Stock or a Security,
the Fair Market Value on any date shall be determined reasonably and with utmost
good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board; provided, however, that if at
the time of such determination there shall be an Acquiring Person, the Fair
Market Value of such property on such date shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board, which determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
binding on the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
(k) "Interested Shareholder" shall mean any Restricted Person and any
Affiliate or Associate of any other Person in which such Restricted Person has
an interest, and any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of or in
concert with any such Restricted Person.
(l) "Permitted Offer" shall mean any tender or exchange offer for all of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price and on terms
determined, prior to the purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer,
by at least a majority of the Disinterested Directors who are not officers of
the Company to be appropriate (taking into account all factors which such
Disinterested Directors deem relevant, including, without limitation, prices
reasonably obtainable if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis
designed to realize maximum value) and otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders (other than the Person or any
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Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose behalf or for whose benefit such tender
or exchange offer is being made).
(m) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, association or other entity, and shall include any
successor (by merger or otherwise) of any of the foregoing.
(n) "Preferred Shares" shall mean the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company, which series shall have
the powers, preferences and other rights set forth in the Certificate of
Designations.
(o) "Principal Party" shall mean: in the case of any transaction described
in Section 3.3(a)(i) or (ii), the Person which is the issuer of the securities
into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are being converted or
exchanged in such transaction or, if there shall be more than one such issuer,
the issuer having shares of Common Stock with the greatest aggregate market
value; or if no securities are being issued in such transaction for shares of
Common Stock of the Company, the Person which is the other party to such
transaction or, if there shall be more than one such Person, the Person having
shares of Common Stock with the greatest aggregate market value; and in the case
of any transaction described in Section 3.3(a)(iii), the Person which is the
party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power sold or
otherwise transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions; provided,
however, that in any such case (i) if the shares of Common Stock of such Person
shall not at the time of the consummation of such transaction been continuously
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act during the immediately preceding
twelve-month period, and such Person shall be a direct or indirect Subsidiary or
Affiliate of another Person the shares of Common Stock of which shall have been
so registered, "Principal Party" shall mean such other Person; (ii) if such
Person shall be a direct or indirect Subsidiary or Affiliate of more than one
other Person, the shares of Common Stock of two or more of which shall have been
so registered, "Principal Party" shall mean whichever of such other Persons
shall have Common Stock with the greatest aggregate market value; or (iii) if
such Person shall be owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by
two or more Persons which are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same
Person, the rules set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this proviso shall apply
to each chain of ownership of any joint venturer as though such joint venture
were a "Subsidiary" of all of such joint venturers, and the Principal Party in
each such chain shall bear the obligations and duties set forth in Section 3.3
in the same proportion as their direct or indirect ownership interest in such
Person bears to the total of such ownership interests.
(p) "Restricted Person" shall mean an Acquiring Person, and any Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
(q) "Rights Certificates" shall mean the certificates evidencing the
Rights after the Distribution Date.
(r) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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(s) "Share Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date on which there
shall be, as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors then in
office in their sole discretion, a public announcement (which shall include,
without limitation, any press release or publicly available filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal or state governmental
authority or agency) by the Company or any Person that such Person has become
an Acquiring Person.
(t) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation, limited
liability company or other entity of which a majority of the voting power (with
respect to such Person's equity securities or equity interests having the power
to control or direct management) is owned, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
(u) "Summary of Rights" shall mean the Summary of Rights to Purchase
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(v) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which such Stock or Security is listed or admitted to
trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Stock or Security is
not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a
Business Day.
ARTICLE II
The Rights
2.1 Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights shall be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph
(b) of this Section) by the certificates for shares of Common Stock registered
in the names of holders of Common Stock (which certificates for shares of Common
Stock also shall be deemed to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate
certificates until the earliest of:
(i) The Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Share
Acquisition Date (or, if the Share Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to
the Record Date, the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the
Record Date); and
(ii) The Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such other
Business Day as may be determined, in compliance with this Agreement, by action
of the Board) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an
Exempt Person) of, or the first public announcement of the intention of any
Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer if,
upon the consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.
Such date shall be referred to herein as the "Distribution Date"; provided,
however, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in Section 2.1(a)(ii)
is canceled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Distribution Date
without the purchase of any Common Stock pursuant thereto, such
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offer shall be deemed for the purposes of the definition of "Distribution Date"
never to have been commenced or publicly announced.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date (or, in the case of
any shares of Common Stock of the Company which are issued or otherwise become
outstanding after the Distribution Date and prior to the Final Expiration Date,
including any shares of Common Stock issued by reason of the exercise of any
option, warrant, right (other than the Rights) or conversion or exchange
privilege contained in any option, warrant, right (other than the Rights) or
convertible or exchangeable security issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date, unless the Board shall have expressly provided to the
contrary at the time of issuance of any such option, warrant, right or
convertible or exchangeable security, simultaneously with the issuance of stock
certificates for such shares of Common Stock), the Company shall prepare and
execute, the Rights Agent shall countersign and the Company shall deliver or
cause to be delivered or the Rights Agent shall, if requested, deliver, by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each record holder of shares of Common
Stock of the Company as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date or, in
the case of shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise becoming outstanding
after the Distribution Date (unless otherwise provided), to each record holder
of the shares of Common Stock so being issued or becoming outstanding at the
time of such occurrence, at the record holder's last address shown on the
registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company, one or
more Rights Certificates evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock of
the Company so held, issued or becoming outstanding. As of and after the
Distribution Date, the Rights shall be evidenced solely by the Rights
Certificates.
(c) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company
shall send a copy of the Summary of Rights, by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company as of
the Close of Business on the Record Date, at such record holder's last address
as shown by the records of the Company.
(d) Until the Distribution Date, no Rights Certificates shall be issued.
Each stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption
Date and the Final Expiration Date, shall be deemed also to constitute a
certificate for the Rights associated with the shares represented thereby,
together with a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto and the
registered holder of such shares also shall be the registered holder of the
associated Rights. Until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption
Date and the Final Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of any such stock
certificate, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto,
shall constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common
Stock represented thereby.
(e) Any stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company which
shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company (including, without
limitation, stock certificates for shares of Common Stock which are reacquired
by the Company and then transferred) after the Record Date
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and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the
Final Expiration Date shall have impressed, printed or written thereon, or
otherwise affixed thereto, the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
Rights as set forth in the Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of August
13, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between Plexus Corp. and Firstar Trust
Co., as Rights Agent, the terms, provisions and conditions of which are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. The Rights
Agreement is on file at the principal office of the Rights Agent, and the
Rights Agent will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy without
charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be
evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement,
the Rights may be redeemed at a redemption price (subject to adjustment) of
$.01 per Right, may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of Common
Stock at an exchange rate (subject to adjustment) of one share of Common
Stock per Right or may become exercisable for securities or assets of the
Company or another entity. Under certain circumstances set forth in the
Rights Agreement, Rights Beneficially Owned by a Restricted Person (as such
terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) or by certain transferees from a
Restricted Person, shall be or become void.
Each stock certificate containing the foregoing legend, until the earliest of
the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date, shall
be deemed also to constitute a certificate for the Rights associated with the
shares represented thereby, and the registered holder of such shares also shall
be the registered holder of the associated Rights. The omission of the foregoing
legend shall not in any manner whatsoever affect the application or
interpretation of Section 2.5(c).
(f) In the event that the Company shall reacquire any shares of its Common
Stock after the Record Date and prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights
associated with such shares shall be deemed canceled and retired, the Company
not being entitled to exercise any Rights associated with shares of its Common
Stock which are no longer outstanding.
2.2 Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (including the Form of Election to Purchase
and Certification of Status and the Form of Assignment and Certificate of Status
to be set forth on the reverse side thereof) shall be in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B and may have such marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements set forth thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate or to comply with any applicable law or any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed. Subject to the
terms of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date (or, in the case of Rights with respect to shares of
Common Stock issued or becoming outstanding after the Record Date, the same date
as the stock
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certificate evidencing such shares), shall (if the Company shall so require)
indicate the date of countersignature by the Rights Agent and shall entitle the
holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share at the Exercise Price as shall be set forth therein, subject to adjustment
as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by:
(i) a Restricted Person, (ii) a transferee from a Restricted Person who becomes
a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee from
a Restricted Person who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the
Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either a
transfer (whether or not for consideration) from such Acquiring Person (or any
Affiliate or Associate thereof) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring
Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) has any continuing written
or oral agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights
or a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which intends to effect the avoidance of Section 2.5(c)
(collectively, a "Restricted Person/Transferee"), and any Rights Certificate
issued pursuant to the transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall have deleted
therefrom the second sentence of the legend on the Rights Certificate attached
hereto as Exhibit B and, in lieu thereof, shall contain the following two
sentences:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were Beneficially
Owned by a Restricted Person as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement. This Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby shall
be or become void under the circumstances specified in Section 2.5(c) of
the Rights Agreement.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Rights Agent after becoming
aware of the existence and identity of any Restricted Person. The failure to
insert the foregoing sentences on any such Rights Certificate or any defect
therein shall not in any manner whatsoever affect the application or
interpretation of Section 2.5(c). The Company shall specify to the Rights Agent
in writing which Rights Certificates are to be so legended.
2.3 Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
its Chairman of the Board, its President, any of its Vice Presidents or its
Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature attested by its Secretary
or any of its Assistant Secretaries, either manually or by facsimile signature.
The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by an authorized
signatory of the Rights Agent and shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have executed any Rights Certificate shall cease to be such officer of the
Company before such Rights Certificate shall have been countersigned by an
authorized signatory of the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by or on
behalf of the Company, such Rights Certificate, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and
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delivered by or on behalf of the Company with the same force and effect as
though the individual who executed such Rights Certificate or who attested the
Company's seal thereon had not ceased to be such officer; and any Rights
Certificate may be executed on behalf of the Company by any individual who, at
the actual date of such execution, shall be a proper officer of the Company,
although at the date of execution of this Rights Agreement such person was not
such an officer.
(b) After the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause to
be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the
Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and
addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of
Rights evidenced on its face by each Rights Certificate, the date of each Rights
Certificate and (if required by the Company) the date of countersignature by the
Rights Agent.
2.4 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) If any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent
prior to the earlier to occur of the Final Expiration Date, the time at which
the Rights are exercised pursuant to Section 2.5 and the time at which Rights
are exchanged pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.2, the Company shall
execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange therefor
a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights
Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent prior
to the Final Expiration Date evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless, then,
subject to the terms of this Agreement and in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a
bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Rights
Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or
stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number
of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and
any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent)
connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section in lieu
of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed,
lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone,
and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and
proportionately with any and all other Rights duly issued hereunder.
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2.5 Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) No Right may be exercised until the Business Day after the
Distribution Date. At any time on and after the Business Day after the
Distribution Date and prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on
August 12, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), and (ii) the time at which such
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 3.2, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby, except as
otherwise provided herein and subject to Section 2.5(c), in whole or in part,
upon surrender of such Rights Certificate, with the Form of Election to Purchase
and Certification of Status on the reverse side thereof duly executed, together
with such signature guarantees and other documentation as the Rights Agent may
reasonably request, to the Rights Agent at its principal office, accompanied by
payment (as provided in Section 2.5(b)) of the Exercise Price for each one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or after a "Triggering Event" as hereinafter
defined, the securities, cash and other property purchasable in lieu thereof)
as to which the surrendered Rights are then being exercised.
(b) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing then exercisable
Rights, with the Form of Election to Purchase and Certification of Status on the
reverse side thereof duly executed, together with such signature guarantees and
other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably request, accompanied by
payment of the Exercise Price for the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share (or after a Triggering Event, the securities, cash and other
property purchasable in lieu thereof) being purchased, plus the amount of any
applicable transfer tax (as determined by the Rights Agent) required to be paid
by the holder of such Rights Certificate, by certified or cashier's check or
money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, thereupon promptly:
(i) Requisition from any transfer agent for the Preferred Shares (or,
if the Rights Agent is such a transfer agent, make available) stock certificates
for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share being purchased, the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizing any such transfer agent to comply with
all such requests;
(ii) Requisition from the depository agent depository receipts for the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share being purchased (in which case
stock certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such depository
receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares with
the depository agent and to which the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing any
such depository agent to comply with all such requests) if the Company shall
have elected to deposit the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights with a depository agent;
(iii) Requisition or obtain from the appropriate Person or Persons
such securities, cash and other property as may then be purchasable in lieu of
Preferred Shares after a Triggering Event (the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizing all such requests);
(iv) Requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in
lieu of the issuance of any fractional share of Preferred Shares when
appropriate; and
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<PAGE> 14
(v) Cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (when appropriate) in
such name or names as may be designated by such registered holder promptly after
receipt of such stock certificates, depository receipts, securities, cash and/or
other property.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event (as hereinafter defined), any
Rights Beneficially Owned by a Restricted Person/Transferee shall be or become
void without any further action. No holder of such Rights shall have any rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise, from and after such first occurrence. The Company shall
use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section and
Section 2.2(b) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of
the Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of the Company's
failure to make any applicable finding or determination with respect to any
Restricted Person, or any transferee of any thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 2.5(a), a Right may be exercised by the holder
thereof on or after the Business Day after the Distribution Date and prior to
the receipt of the associated Rights Certificate by notifying the Rights Agent
in writing and furnishing to the Rights Agent such information and evidence as
to such election as the Rights Agent may reasonably request; provided, however,
that the Rights Agent shall not be required to take any of the actions specified
in this Section until such holder shall have fully satisfied the applicable
requirements specified therein.
(e) Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to any Rights or Rights Certificate upon the
purported exercise or transfer thereof unless the registered holder thereof
shall have completed and signed the Certification of Status following the Form
of Election to Purchase or the Form of Assignment, as the case may be, set forth
on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise or
transfer, and provided such additional evidence as to the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof or the Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
(f) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise
less than all of the Rights evidenced thereby, then, subject to the provisions
of Section 5.6, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be prepared and executed by the Company and countersigned and
delivered by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such surrendered
Rights Certificate or to such registered holder's duly authorized assigns.
2.6 Exercise Price. The price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share purchased upon exercise of the Rights shall initially be $108.00 (the
"Exercise Price"), shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in this Agreement and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of
America in accordance with Section 2.5(b).
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2.7 Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares and Rights.
(a) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred
Shares, subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares into a greater number of
Preferred Shares, combine or consolidate the outstanding Preferred Shares into a
smaller number of Preferred Shares or issue any shares of capital stock of any
class in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such
reclassification in connection with a combination or merger in which the Company
is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in
this Section 2.7 and in Section 2.5(c), the Exercise Price in effect at the
Close of Business on the record date for such dividend or at the effective time
of such subdivision, combination, consolidation or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
at such date or time, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the registered
holder of each Right exercised after such date or time shall be entitled to
receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such
Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date or time and at a time
when the registry books of the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares were
open, such registered holder would have been entitled to receive by reason of
such dividend, subdivision, combination, consolidation or reclassification;
provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise thereof. If an event
shall occur which would require an adjustment under both this paragraph and
Section 3.1, the adjustment provided for in this paragraph shall be in addition
to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to such Section
3.1.
(b) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of any distribution to all registered holders of Preferred Shares of options,
warrants or rights entitling them (for a period expiring not later than 45
calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase (i) Preferred
Shares or shares of capital stock of any class of the Company having the same or
more favorable powers, preferences and rights as the Preferred Shares
("Equivalent Preferred Shares"), or (ii) securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares, at a price per
Preferred Share or per Equivalent Preferred Share (or having a conversion or
exchange price per share, in the case of securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Preferred Shares or Equivalent Preferred Shares) less than the
Fair Market Value of one Preferred Share on such record date, 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 the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on
such record date, plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate
offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or Equivalent
Preferred Shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion or
exchange price, in the case of convertible or exchangeable securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such Fair Market Value, and the denominator of which
shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date, plus
the total number of Preferred Shares and/or Equivalent Preferred Shares so to be
offered (and/or into or for which the convertible or exchangeable securities so
to be offered are initially convertible or exchangeable); provided, however,
that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one
Right be less
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<PAGE> 16
than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issuable upon the exercise thereof. In case all or part of such subscription
price may be paid in a form other than cash, the value of such non-cash
consideration shall be its Fair Market Value. Preferred Shares owned by or held
for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose
of any computation provided for in this subsection. The adjustment required by
this subsection shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed;
and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall
be adjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(c) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of any distribution to all registered holders of Preferred Shares (including any
such distribution made in connection with a combination or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of cash (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), options, warrants or rights (other than those
referred to in Section 3.1), securities, evidences of indebtedness or other
property (excluding any dividend payable in Preferred Shares, but including any
dividend payable in other shares of capital stock), 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 the Fair Market Value of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share on such record date, less the Fair Market Value of the cash,
options, warrants, rights, securities, evidences of indebtedness or other
property so to be distributed and properly attributable to one one-hundredth of
a Preferred Share, and the denominator of which shall be such Fair Market Value
of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share. The adjustment required by this
subsection shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall be
adjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d) No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1.0% in the
Exercise Price then in effect; provided, however, that any adjustments which by
reason of this subsection are not required to be made shall be carried forward
and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this
Section shall be made to the nearest whole cent, to the nearest one
ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other capital stock of any class
(other than Preferred Shares) or to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred
Share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
subsection, any adjustment required by this Section shall be made no later than
the earliest to occur of three years after the date of the occurrence requiring
such adjustment, the Redemption Date, and the Final Expiration Date.
(e) If as a result of an adjustment required by any Triggering Event the
holder of any Rights thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any
shares of capital stock of any class of the Company (other than Preferred
Shares), the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Rights shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms
as nearly equivalent as reasonably possible to the provisions with respect to
the Preferred Shares
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<PAGE> 17
contained in this Section, and the provisions of this Agreement with respect to
the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(f) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(g) Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the
Exercise Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Preferred Shares (subject to Section 180.0622(b), Wis. Stats.) at
such adjusted Exercise Price.
(h) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board
shall be entitled to make reductions in the Exercise Price, in addition to the
adjustments expressly required by this Section, as and to the extent that the
Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be advisable in order that any
dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, any subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the Preferred Shares (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in Preferred Shares) into a greater or
lesser number of Preferred Shares, any issuance of Preferred Shares solely for
cash at less than the Fair Market Value thereof, any issuance solely for cash of
Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for Preferred Shares or any issuance of options, warrants, rights,
securities, evidences of indebtedness or other property subject to subsection
(b) or (c) of this Section, hereafter made by the Company to the holders of the
Preferred Shares, shall not be taxable to such holders.
(i) Unless the Company shall have exercised the option provided in Section
2.7(b), upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the
calculations required by Sections 2.7(b) and 2.7(c), each Right outstanding
immediately prior to the making of such Exercise Price adjustment shall
thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
one millionth) determined by (i) multiplying the number of one one-hundredths of
a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of such Right immediately prior to
such adjustment by the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.
(j) The Company may elect, on or after the date on which any adjustment of
the Exercise Price is required to be made hereunder, to adjust the number of
Rights outstanding in substitution for making an adjustment in the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right.
Each Right outstanding after such an adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the same number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as
such Right was exercisable for immediately prior to such adjustment; but each
Right held of record prior
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<PAGE> 18
to such adjustment shall become the number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one ten-thousandth) determined by dividing the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to the occurrence requiring 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 prompt public announcement of its
election to adjust the number of Rights outstanding, indicating the record date
for the adjustment and, if known at the time of such announcement, the amount of
the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the
Exercise Price is required to be adjusted or any day thereafter, unless the
Rights Certificates shall have been issued, in which case such record date shall
be at least ten days after the date of such public announcement. If the Rights
Certificates shall have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of
Rights outstanding pursuant to this subsection, the Company shall, as promptly
as practicable, cause to be distributed to each registered holder of the Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 5.6, the additional Rights to which such registered holder shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment; or, at its option, the Company shall
cause to be distributed to each such registered holder, in substitution and
replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such registered holder prior to
the date of such adjustment, but only upon surrender thereof (if so required by
the Company), new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such
registered holder shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates
so distributed shall be executed and countersigned in the manner provided by
this Agreement (and may designate, at the option of the Company, the adjusted
Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the aforesaid public
announcement.
(k) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date declare a dividend on its
outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of its outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then, in each such case, the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
purchasable after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be
determined by multiplying the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event; and each share of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it the same number of Rights which each share of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. This
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or
such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
(l) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to designate the Exercise Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share which were designated in the Rights Certificates originally
issued hereunder.
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(m) In any case in which this Section shall require an adjustment of the
Exercise Price effective as of the record date for a particular event, the
Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the
holder of any Rights exercised after such record date of the Preferred Shares
(and/or the other shares of capital stock, securities or other property of the
Company, if any) issuable upon such exercise in excess of the Preferred Shares
(and/or the other shares of capital stock, securities or other property of the
Company, if any) issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price
in effect immediately prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the
Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument
evidencing such holder's right to receive such excess upon the occurrence of
such event.
2.8 Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation. If the Rights
Certificates are in canceled form when surrendered to the Rights Agent, they
shall be canceled by it. No Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu of the
canceled Rights Certificates except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.
The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation, and the Rights
Agent shall cancel, any other Rights Certificate purchased or reacquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver
all canceled Rights Certificates to the Company or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates and deliver a
certificate of the destruction thereof to the Company.
2.9 Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and
kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares, or any
authorized and issued Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of
Preferred Shares required to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of
the Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the stock certificates therefor in
accordance with Section 2.5(b) (including the receipt of payment of the Exercise
Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
nonassessable (subject to Section 180.0622(b), Wis. Stats.).
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best efforts to
(i) file, as soon as practicable after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event for
which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the
Rights has been determined, or as soon as required by law after the Distribution
Date, as the case may be, a registration statement on an appropriate form under
the Securities Act with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon
as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus which at all times meets the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the earliest of the date as of which the Rights are no
longer
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exercisable for such securities, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration
Date. The Company further covenants and agrees that it will take such action as
may be appropriate under, and which will ensure compliance with, the securities
or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily
suspend, for not more than 120 days after the applicable date specified in the
first sentence of this subsection, the exercisability of the Rights in order to
prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective
and to complete such securities or "blue sky" law action. Upon such suspension,
the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of
the Rights has been temporarily suspended, and the Company also shall issue a
public announcement at such time as the suspension shall no longer be in effect.
Failure of the Company to notify the Rights Agent of any such suspension shall
not affect the effectiveness thereof. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification or exemption in such
jurisdiction shall have been effected. Until otherwise notified in writing by
the Company, the Rights Agent may assume that each purported exercise of the
Rights is permitted by this Agreement and by applicable law, and the Rights
Agent shall not be liable for acting in reliance upon such assumption.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that, subject to Section 2.4, it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state original issue or
transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or
delivery of the Rights or the Rights Certificates or of any stock certificate
for Preferred Shares issued upon exercise of the Rights. The Company shall not,
however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer or delivery of any Rights Certificate to a Person other than, or
the issuance of any stock certificate for Preferred Shares upon exercise of any
of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate in a name other than, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to issue or deliver any Rights
Certificate or stock certificate for Preferred Shares upon such transfer or
exercise until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by
the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender thereof) or until
it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that no such
tax is due.
(e) After a Triggering Event, the provisions of this Section shall apply,
to the extent applicable and appropriate, to all shares of capital stock and
other securities then purchasable upon exercise of the Rights.
2.10 Record Date of Preferred Share Ownership. The Person in whose name any
stock certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon exercise of any of the
Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of
the Preferred Shares represented thereby on, and such stock certificate shall be
dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered to the Rights Agent with proper payment of the Exercise Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes, if any); provided, however, that if the date
of such surrender and payment shall be a date upon which the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Preferred Shares are closed, such Person shall be
deemed to have become the record holder of such Preferred Shares on, and such
stock certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which such
registry books are open.
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ARTICLE III
Adjustments to the Rights in the Event of
Certain Transactions
3.1 Flip-In.
(a) For purposes of this Article III, the "Product" shall be defined as
the product of the then current Exercise Price and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which such Right was exercisable prior
to such occurrence.
(b) Subject to Section 3.2, promptly upon the occurrence of an event
described in (i), (ii) or (iii) below (where each event shall be referred to
herein as a "Flip-In Event") proper provision shall be made so that the
registered holder of each Right, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.5(c),
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of
the Product, in accordance with this Agreement, in lieu of Preferred Shares, the
number of shares of Common Stock determined dividing the Product by 50% of the
Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of such occurrence:
(i) The occurrence of a Share Acquisition Date; or
(ii) The commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) of,
or the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than an
Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer if, upon the consummation
thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if any
such tender or exchange offer is canceled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn
prior to the Distribution Date without the purchase of any Common Stock pursuant
thereto, such offer shall be deemed never to have been commenced or publicly
announced.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient authorized and
unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(b), the Company shall take all
necessary action to authorize and reserve for issuance such number of additional
shares of Common Stock as may from time to time be required to be issued upon
the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights and, if necessary, shall use its
best efforts to obtain shareholder approval thereof. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, if at least a majority of the Disinterested Directors shall
determine that such action is necessary or appropriate and is not contrary to
the best interests of the holders of the Rights or if a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock cannot be issued for such purpose in accordance with the
provisions hereof, such Disinterested Directors may cause the Company, in lieu
of issuing shares of Common Stock to distribute, upon the exercise of each
Right, cash, debt securities, shares of preferred stock of the Company, other
property or any combination thereof, having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal
to the Fair Market Value of the number of shares of Common Stock which otherwise
would have been issuable. Any such decision by a majority of the Disinterested
Directors must be made and publicly announced within 45 days after the
occurrence of any Flip-In Event.
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3.2 Exchange.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time on or after the occurrence
of a Flip-In Event, exchange all or any part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include any Rights which have become void
pursuant to Section 2.5(c)) for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an
exchange rate of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted
(such exchange rate being hereinafter called the "Exchange Rate"); provided,
however, that the Board shall not be authorized to effect such an exchange at
any time after any Person (other than an Exempt Person), together with the
Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall have become the Beneficial Owner
of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.
(b) Immediately after action by the Board directing the exchange of any
Rights pursuant to this Section, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate, and thereafter each
registered holder of such Rights shall only be entitled to receive the number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company which shall equal the number of such
Rights held by such registered holder multiplied by the Exchange Rate then in
effect. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Rights Agent and
prompt public notice to the holders of the Rights of any such exchange;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice
shall not affect the validity of such exchange. Within 15 Business Days after
action by the Board directing the exchange of any Rights, the Company shall mail
(or cause the Rights Agent to mail) a notice of exchange to each registered
holder of such Rights, at its last address appearing on the registry books of
the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner provided in this subsection (b) shall be deemed given,
whether or not received by the registered holder to whom sent. Each notice of
exchange shall state the method by which the exchange of shares of Common Stock
for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the
number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected
pro rata among the registered holders of the Rights based upon the number of
Rights held (excluding Rights which shall have become void pursuant to Section
2.5(c)); and, in such case, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights not
being exchanged shall be prepared and executed by the Company and countersigned
and delivered by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section, the Company, at its option,
may substitute Preferred Shares (or Equivalent Preferred Shares) for shares of
Common Stock in effecting an exchange for Rights, at the initial rate of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or Equivalent Preferred Share) for each
share of Common Stock, appropriately adjusted to reflect any adjustments in the
voting rights of the Preferred Shares pursuant to the Certificate of
Designations attached hereto as Exhibit A, so that the fractional Preferred
Share delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting
rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient authorized and
unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock or Preferred Shares (or Equivalent
Preferred Shares) to permit the
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exchange of Rights directed by the Board, the Company shall take all necessary
action to authorize and reserve for issuance such number of additional shares of
Common Stock or Preferred Shares (or Equivalent Preferred Shares) as may be
required for issuance upon such exchange and, if necessary, shall use its best
efforts to obtain shareholder approval thereof.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares of Common
Stock in exchange for Rights or to distribute stock certificates which evidence
fractional shares of Common Stock. If the Company shall determine not to issue
fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Rights with respect to which such fractional shares would
otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair
Market Value for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exchange
of one share of Common Stock.
3.3 Flip-Over.
(a) In the event that, on or after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, and
an event described in (i), (ii) or (ii) below (where each such event shall be
referred to herein as a "Flip-Over Event," and where a Flip-In Event or a
Flip-Over Event shall sometimes be referred to herein as a "Triggering Event"),
proper provision shall be made so that the registered holder of each Right,
except as otherwise provided in Section 2.5(c), shall thereafter have the right
to receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of an amount equal to the Product,
in accordance with this Agreement, in lieu of Preferred Shares, the number of
freely tradable shares (which shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable) of Common Stock of the Principal Party or, in the case
of a merger described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.3(a) in which the Common
Stock of the Company shall remain outstanding, unconverted and unchanged, of the
Company, free and clear of all rights of call or first refusal, liens,
encumbrances or other adverse claims, determined by dividing the Product by 50%
of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party
(or, if appropriate, the Company) on the date of consummation of a Flip-Over
Event. Such Flip-Over Events are as follows:
(i) The Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any Interested Shareholder or, if in such consolidation or merger all holders
of the Common Stock of the Company are not treated the same, any other Person
(other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) in a transaction not
prohibited by Section 3.3(i), so that the Company shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation;
(ii) Any Interested Shareholder or, if in such merger all holders of
the Common Stock of the Company are not treated the same, any other Person
(other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction not
prohibited by Section 3.3(i)) shall merge with and into the Company, so that the
Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, and in connection with
such merger either all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company shall be converted or changed into or exchanged for capital stock or
other securities of any other Person (or the Company), cash and/or other
property or such shares of Common Stock shall remain outstanding, unconverted
and unchanged; or
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(iii) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more
of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or a series of
related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to any Interested Shareholder or, if in such transaction or transactions the
holders of the Common Stock of the Company are not treated the same, any other
Person or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which is not prohibited by
Section 3.3(i));
(b) Upon the consummation of a Flip-Over Event, such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by reason of the consummation of
such Flip-Over Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company under this
Agreement. The term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such
Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the applicable provisions
of this Agreement shall apply to such Principal Party and such Principal Party
shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a
sufficient number of its shares of Common Stock to permit exercise of all
outstanding Rights in accordance with this subsection and the distribution of
cash, debt securities, shares and other property in accordance with Section
3.1(d)) in connection with the consummation of a Flip-Over Event as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as reasonably possible, in relation to the shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon exercise of the Rights.
(c) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not consolidate or
merge with any other Person (other than a wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction not prohibited by Section 3.3(i)), or sell or otherwise
transfer (or permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to sell or otherwise
transfer), in one or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions, each of which is not prohibited by Section 3.3(i)), if (i) at the
time of or immediately after the consummation of such transaction there are any
options, warrants, rights, conversion or exchange privileges or securities
outstanding or any written or oral agreements, arrangements or understandings
(including provisions contained in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws) in effect which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction,
would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded
by the Rights, or (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such
transaction the shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute,
the Principal Party for the purpose of subsection (a) of this Section shall have
received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates.
(d) The Company shall not consummate any Flip-Over Event unless prior
thereto (i) the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized
shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for issuance
to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section,
and (ii) the Company, the Principal Party and each other Person who may become
the Principal Party as a result of the consummation of such Flip-Over Event
shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the implementation of all the
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terms and conditions set forth in this Section and that, as soon as practicable
after the date of such Flip-Over Event, the Principal Party, at its own expense,
shall:
(i) Prepare and file a registration statement on an appropriate form
under the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise thereof, and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and to remain effective (with a prospectus which at all times meets
the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earliest of the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, the Redemption
Date and the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) Use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise thereof under the securities or
"blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate in
connection with the exercisability of the Rights;
(iii) Use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing
of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise thereof on a
national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for
quotation on Nasdaq; and
(iv) Deliver to the registered holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates
complying in all material respects with the requirements for registration
of securities on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this
Section shall not apply if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or
Persons who acquired their shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to a
Permitted Offer, (ii) the price per share of Common Stock of the Company
provided in such transaction shall not be less than the price per share of
Common Stock paid to all holders whose shares were purchased pursuant to such
Permitted Offer, and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of the Common Stock of the Company pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
Permitted Offer. Upon consummation of any transaction authorized by this
subsection (e), all Rights shall expire.
(f) If, in the case of any transaction described in clause (iii) of
subsection (a) of this Section, the Person or Persons to whom assets or earning
power are sold or otherwise transferred are individuals, then, in lieu of any
other payment or distribution required by this Section, the Company shall
require as a condition to such transaction that, such Person or Persons shall
pay to each holder of a Rights Certificate, upon its surrender to the Rights
Agent and in exchange therefor (without requiring any payment by such holder),
cash in the amount determined by multiplying the then current Exercise Price by
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable.
(g) In no event shall the Rights Agent have any obligations or duties in
respect of any Flip-Over Event, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement.
The Rights Agent may rely, and
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shall be fully protected in relying upon, a certificate of the Company stating
that the provisions of this Section have been fulfilled. The prior written
consent of the Rights Agent shall be required in connection with any
supplemental agreement which alters or impairs the rights, obligations, duties
or immunities of the Rights Agent hereunder.
(h) The provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive
consolidations, mergers, sales or other transfers. In the event that a Flip-Over
Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, the
Rights which have not been theretofore exercised shall thereafter be exercisable
in the manner described in this Section.
(i) Except as permitted by Sections 5.1 and 5.9, the Company covenants and
agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not take, or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to take, any action if at the time such action would be taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action would eliminate or substantially
diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
3.4 Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares. Whenever
any adjustment shall be required, the Company shall promptly (i) prepare a
certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts
requiring such adjustment, (ii) file with the Rights Agent and with each
transfer agent (if different than the Rights Agent) for the Preferred Shares or
the Common Stock of the Company a copy of such certificate and (iii) mail a
brief summary thereof to each registered holder of the Rights in accordance with
Section 5.8. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment described therein and shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received
such certificate.
ARTICLE IV
The Rights Agent
4.1 Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights
Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. 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.
4.2 Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time on
the written request of the Rights Agent, to reimburse it for all reasonable
expenses and counsel fees incurred in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations and
duties hereunder. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense,
incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, for
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement and the performance of its
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<PAGE> 27
obligations and duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for,
or in respect of, any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate,
stock certificate for Preferred Shares, Common Stock or other shares of capital
stock of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or
other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged by the proper Person or Persons.
4.3 Merger or Consolidation of the 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
shareholder services or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as successor Rights Agent under Section 4.5. In case at
the time any successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this
Agreement any of the Rights Certificates countersigned by its predecessor Rights
Agent shall not have been delivered, such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of its predecessor Rights Agent and deliver the Rights
Certificates so countersigned; or in case at such time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, such successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of its predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of such successor Rights Agent; and in all such
cases, such Rights Certificates shall have the full force and effect provided
therein and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and
at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver the Rights Certificates so countersigned; or in case at such
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases, such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force and effect provided therein and in this Agreement.
4.4 Duties of the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
obligations and duties imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of the Rights
Certificates (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the stock certificates for the
Common Stock of the Company), by accepting the same, shall be bound, and no
implied obligations or duties shall be read into this Agreement against the
Rights Agent.
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(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the written opinion of such legal counsel shall be
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting 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 executed by any one of the Chairman of the Board,
the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company
and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be authorization
and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken, suffered or omitted
by it in good faith in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereon) 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 responsible for the validity of this
Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except for its due execution
hereof) or for the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except for
its countersignature thereon); nor shall the Rights Agent be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement
or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall the Rights Agent be responsible for any
change in the exercisability of the Rights (including Rights becoming void
pursuant to Section 2.5(c)), for any adjustment or change (or for the manner or
method of determining same) in the terms of the Rights (including any adjustment
or change in the Exercise Price or in the number or kind of shares, securities
or other property issuable upon the exercise thereof) required by this Agreement
or for ascertaining the existence of facts which would require any such change
or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights
Certificates after actual notice, in the manner provided in Section 3.3, that
such change or adjustment is required); nor shall the Rights Agent by any act
hereunder be deemed to have made any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares or shares of Common Stock
to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to
whether any Preferred Shares or shares of Common Stock will, when issued, be
validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further 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.
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(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its obligations and duties
hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such
officers for advice or instructions in connection with its obligations and
duties; and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with the written instructions
of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for such
instructions.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in the Rights or in any other securities
of the Company (including the Preferred Shares and its Common Stock) or become
pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company (or any of its
Subsidiaries) may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company
(or any of its Subsidiaries), and may otherwise act as fully and freely as
though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement; and nothing herein
shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any of its obligations or duties hereunder either
directly 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 attorney or agent or for any loss to the Company resulting from any
such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided the Rights Agent exercised
reasonable care in the selection and continued employment of such attorney or
agent.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the Form of Certification of Status attached to
the Form of Election to Purchase or the Form of Assignment, as the case may be,
has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to Question 1
and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to the requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the
Company.
(k) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its obligations or duties or in the exercise of its rights
or powers hereunder 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.
4.5 Resignation or Removal of the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its obligations and
duties under this Agreement upon 30 days' prior notice to the Company and to
each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares and for the Common Stock of the
Company, sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and to each
registered holder of the Rights Certificates, sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
upon 30 days' prior notice to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be, and to each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares and for the
Common Stock of the Company, sent by registered or certified mail,
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<PAGE> 30
postage prepaid, and to each registered holder of the Rights Certificates, sent
by first class mail, postage prepaid. If the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor Rights Agent. If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within 30 days after giving notice of such removal
or after receiving notice of such resignation or incapacity, either from the
resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or from the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit its Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or the
registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor 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 of
America or the State of Wisconsin (or of any other state so long as such
corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the State
of Wisconsin), be in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, have an office in the State of Wisconsin, be authorized under
such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers, be subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and have at the time of
its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000. After its appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested
with the same rights, powers, obligations, duties and immunities as if it had
been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the
predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent for
the Preferred Shares and for the Common Stock of the Company, and mail notice
thereof to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent or the appointment of any successor thereto.
ARTICLE V
Miscellaneous
5.1 Redemption.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time prior to the earliest of the
(i) Distribution Date, and (ii) the Final Expiration Date (where such date at
which Rights are redeemed pursuant to this Section shall be referred to herein
as the "Redemption Date"), redeem all, but not less than all, of the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, as may be adjusted
as provided in Section 5.1(f) (the "Redemption Price"), provided that, if the
Board shall authorize the redemption of the Rights in the circumstances set
forth in either of clauses (A) or (B) below, there must be more than one
Disinterested Director then in office and such authorization shall require the
concurrence of at least a majority of such Disinterested Directors: (A) such
authorization shall occur on or after the date a Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, or (B) such authorization shall occur on or after the date of a change
(resulting from a solicitation of either proxies or one or more written
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shareholder consents) in a majority of the directors in office at the
commencement of such solicitation if any Person who shall be a participant in
such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation,
at least a majority of the Disinterested Directors shall have determined in good
faith) that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to
take, or may consider taking, any action which would result in such Person
becoming an Acquiring Person.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Flip-Over Event until
such time as the Company's right of redemption under this Section shall have
expired.
(c) In considering whether to redeem the Rights, the Board and the
Disinterested Directors may consider the best long and short term interests of
the Company and its shareholders, including, without limitation, the effects of
the redemption of the Rights upon employees, creditors, suppliers and customers
of the Company or of its Subsidiaries and upon the communities in which offices
or other establishments of the Company and such Subsidiaries are located and all
other pertinent factors. The redemption of the Rights by the Board may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board, in
its sole discretion, may establish.
(d) Immediately after action by the Board directing the redemption of the
Rights and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights shall terminate, and thereafter each registered holder of
the Rights shall only be entitled to receive the Redemption Price therefor. The
Company shall give prompt written notice to the Rights Agent and prompt public
notice to the holders of the Rights of any such redemption; provided, however,
that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the
validity of such redemption. Within ten days after action by the Board directing
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail (or cause the Rights Agent
to mail) a notice of redemption to each registered holder of the then
outstanding Rights, at its last address appearing on the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Stock of the Company. Any notice which is mailed
in the manner provided in this subsection shall be deemed given, whether or not
received by the registered holder to whom sent. Each notice of redemption shall
state the method by which payment of the Redemption Price is to be made. Neither
the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may at any time redeem,
acquire or purchase for value any Rights other than in the manner set forth in
this Section and Section 3.2 or in connection with any purchase of outstanding
shares of its Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date.
(e) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
shares of Common Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date of
redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.
(f) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the date of this
Agreement (i) declare a dividend on its outstanding shares of Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of its outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock) into a
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greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the
Redemption Price after such event shall equal the Redemption Price in effect
immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event; provided, however, that such
adjustment shall be made only if the amount of the Redemption Price would be
reduced or increased by at least $0.001 per Right.
5.2 Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement,
other than rights of action which the Rights Agent may have under Sections 4.2
and 4.4, are vested in the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock of
the Company); and the registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of any stock certificate for shares of such Common
Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of any other stock
certificate for shares of Common Stock), may, on such registered holder's own
behalf and for such registered 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 registered holder's right to exercise the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
such stock certificate) in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in
this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any remedies
available to the holders of the Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the
registered holders of the Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for
any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations and duties under, and injunctive relief against any actual or
threatened violations of the obligations and duties of any Person subject to,
this Agreement.
5.3 Agreements of Holders of the Rights. Each holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be transferable only
simultaneously and together with the transfer of shares of Common Stock of the
Company;
(b) After the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates shall be
transferable on the registry books of the Rights Agent only if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, with the Form of Assignment and
Certification of Status on the reverse side thereof duly executed, together with
such signature guarantees and other documentation as the Rights Agent may
reasonably request;
(c) Subject to Sections 2.4 and 2.5(c), the Company and the Rights Agent
may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, any stock certificate for the Common Stock of the
Company) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
represented thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or other writing
on such Rights Certificate or stock certificate made by anyone other than the
Company or the Rights
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<PAGE> 33
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent
shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) Neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or to any other Person because of its inability to perform
any of its obligations or duties under this Agreement by reason of any
applicable law, any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree
or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or commission or any rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any such governmental authority
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of any such obligation or duty;
provided, however, that the Company shall use its best efforts to have any such
injunction, order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as
reasonably possible.
5.4 Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as
such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, to receive dividends
or other distributions on or to exercise any preemptive rights with respect to,
or shall be deemed for any other purpose to be the holder of, the Preferred
Shares or other shares of capital stock of any class of the Company which may at
the time be issuable upon exercise of the Rights represented thereby; nor shall
anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer
upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company, or any right to vote for the election of directors
or upon any other matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, to
give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 5.7) or
to receive dividends, subscription rights or other distributions, until the
Rights represented by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised, in
whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.5 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement or of the Rights Certificates to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing the Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Exercise Price or in the number or kind of shares, securities or other property
issuable upon exercise of the Rights in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificates shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that
such issuance could create a significant risk of material adverse tax
consequences to the Company or to the Persons to whom such Rights Certificates
would be issued and (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to
the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu
of the issuance thereof.
5.6 Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. If the Company
shall determine not to issue fractional Rights, the Company shall pay, to the
registered holders of the Rights with respect to which fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
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<PAGE> 34
Fair Market Value for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which
such fractional Rights would otherwise have been issued of one Right in lieu of
issuing fractional Rights.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Preferred Shares
(other than fractions which are multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute stock certificates which
evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are multiples
of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). If the Company shall determine not
to issue fractional Preferred Shares that are not multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates at the time Rights represented thereby are exercised, in
lieu of such fractional Preferred Shares, an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the Fair Market Value for the Trading Day immediately prior to the
date of such exercise of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share.
(c) Each holder of a Right, by accepting the same, expressly waives such
holder's right to receive or exercise any fractional Right or to receive any
fractional Preferred Share upon the exercise of such Right (except as provided
in this Section).
5.7 Notice to Holders of Rights Certificates of Certain Events.
(a) In the event that any time after the Distribution Date, the Company
shall propose: (i) to pay any dividend payable in shares of capital stock of any
class of the Company to the holders of Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend); (ii) to effect any reclassification of the Preferred
Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of the
outstanding Preferred Shares); (iii) to make any distribution to the holders of
Preferred Shares described in Section 2.7(b) or 2.7(c); (iv) to effect any
Flip-Over Event; (v) to pay any dividend on its shares of Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of its outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock); or (vi) to
effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; then, in each
such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and each registered holder
of the Rights, in the manner provided in Section 5.8, written notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for such stock dividend or
distribution or the date on which such reclassification, Flip-Over Event,
liquidation, dissolution or winding up is expected to occur (and the date for
participation therein by the holders of the Common Stock and/or Preferred Shares
if any such date is to be fixed). Such notice shall be given, in the case of any
action described in clause (i) or (iii) of the preceding sentence, at least ten
days prior to the record date and, in the case of any other such action, at
least 20 days prior to the date of taking of such proposed action or the date
for participation therein by the holders of Preferred Shares, whichever shall be
the earlier.
(b) In case any Flip-In Event shall occur, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable thereafter, give to the Rights Agent and each registered holder of
the Rights, in the manner provided in Section 5.8, written notice of the
occurrence thereof, which notice shall describe such occurrence and its
consequences in reasonable detail.
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<PAGE> 35
5.8 Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, notices or demands
authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the
registered holder of any Rights, Rights Certificate or stock certificate for
shares of Common Stock of the Company to or on the Company shall be sufficiently
given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until
another address shall be filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Plexus Corp.
55 Jewelers Park Drive
Neenah, Wisconsin 54957-0156
Attention: General Counsel
Except as otherwise provided herein, notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the registered holder of any
Rights, Rights Certificate or stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of
the Company to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
shall be filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Firstar Trust Co.
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 301
P.O. Box 2077
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
Attention: Suzanne P. Norman Barnes, Vice President
Except as otherwise provided herein, notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the
registered holder of any Rights, Rights Certificate or stock certificate for
shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at its last
address appearing on the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the
Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common
Stock of the Company.
5.9 Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, but
subject to the last sentence of this Section, the Company and the Rights
Agent, if so directed in writing by the Company may supplement or amend any
term, provision or condition of this Agreement, without the approval of the
registered holders of the stock certificates representing the Common Stock and
the Rights. From and after the Distribution Date, but subject to the last
sentence of this Section, the Company and the Rights Agent, if so directed in
writing by the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement, without the
approval of the registered holders of the Rights (however represented), in order
to: (i) cure any ambiguity; (ii) correct or supplement any term, provision or
condition of this Agreement which may be defective or inconsistent with any
other term, provision or condition hereof; (iii) shorten or lengthen any time
period specified herein (except that after the first occurrence of an event
described in either clause (A) or (B) in the first sentence of Section 5.1(a),
there must be Disinterested Directors then in office and any such shortening or
lengthening shall require the concurrence of at least a majority of such
Disinterested Directors); or (iv) change or
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<PAGE> 36
supplement one or more of the terms, provisions or conditions hereof, other than
as described in (iii) above, in any manner which the Company may deem necessary
or desirable and which shall not materially adversely affect, as determined by
the Board (with the concurrence of at least a majority of the Disinterested
Directors), the interests of the holders (other than a Restricted Person or the
transferees thereof specified in Section 2.5(c)) of the Rights (however
represented); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence (A) to lengthen any time
period unless (I) approved by at least a majority of the Disinterested
Directors, and (II) such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing
or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders (other than a
Restricted Person or the transferees thereof specified in Section 2.5(c)) of the
Rights, or (B) to lengthen any time period relating to when the Rights may be
redeemed if at such time the Rights are not then redeemable. Upon the delivery
of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company stating that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this
Section, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided,
however, that the Rights Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement
or amendment which affects any of the Rights Agent's rights, powers,
obligations, duties or immunities under this Agreement without its consent. On
and after the Distribution Date, no supplement or amendment shall be made which
changes the Exercise Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is exercisable, the Redemption Price or the Final
Expiration Date. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
the Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of the
Common Stock of the Company.
5.10 Successors. All of the terms, provisions and conditions 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.
5.11 Certain Determinations and Actions by the Board. For all purposes of
this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any particular time, including the determination of the
percentage of such outstanding shares of which any Person is the Beneficial
Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i), as in effect on the date hereof, under the Exchange Act. The
Board (or, as and when set forth herein, the Disinterested Directors) shall have
the exclusive power and authority to interpret this Agreement and to exercise
all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as
may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power to make all determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for such administration, including, without
limitation, a determination to redeem or not to redeem the Rights, to exchange
or not to exchange the Rights, or to supplement or amend this Agreement. All
such calculations, determinations, interpretations and exercises (including, for
purposes of clause (ii) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing)
which are done or made by the Board (or the Disinterested Directors) in good
faith shall (i) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other Persons and (ii) not subject any
director (including any Disinterested Director) to any liability to the holders
of the Rights or to any other Person.
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<PAGE> 37
5.12 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the registered holders of the stock certificates for the Common Stock of
the Company) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement;
but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the stock certificates
for the Common Stock of the Company).
5.13 Severability. If any term, provision or condition of this Agreement
shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other lawful authority to
be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining terms, provisions, and
conditions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that if any such
term, provision or condition is held by such court or authority to be invalid,
void or unenforceable and the Board (with the concurrence of at least a majority
of the Disinterested Directors then in office) shall determine in good faith
that severing the same from this Agreement would adversely affect the purposes
or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 5.6
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the
tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board.
5.14 Governing Law. This Agreement and each Rights Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the
State of Wisconsin and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be
performed entirely within such State.
5.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
5.16 Descriptive Readings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect
the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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<PAGE> 38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
PLEXUS CORP.
By: /s/ Peter Strandwitz
---------------------------------------
Peter Strandwitz, Chairman of the Board
FIRSTAR TRUST CO.
By: /s/ Suzanne P. Norman Barnes
----------------------------------------
Suzanne P. Norman Barnes, Vice President
ATTEST
By: /s/ William R. Caruso
----------------------------------
William R. Caruso, Assistant Secretary
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<PAGE> 39
Exhibit A
FORM
OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
PLEXUS CORP.
(Pursuant to Section 180.0602 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law)
Plexus Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the Wisconsin
Business Corporation Law (the "Corporation"), does hereby certify that, pursuant
to authority conferred upon its Board of Directors by its Restated Articles of
Incorporation and by the provisions of 180.0602 of the Wisconsin Business
Corporation Law, the following resolution was adopted by its Board of Directors
at a meeting duly held on August 13, 1998:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation (the "Board") by the provisions of the Restated
Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation and the provisions of Section
180.0602 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, there is hereby created a
series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, which series shall have the
following powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating,
optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, in addition to those set forth in the Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation:
Section 1. Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Number of Shares.
There is designated a series of Preferred Stock titled as "Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock," no par value per share (the "Series A Preferred
Stock"), and the authorized number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 1,000,000. Such number of authorized shares may be increased or
decreased, from time to time, by resolution of the Board; provided, however,
that no such decrease shall reduce the number of authorized shares of the Series
A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock then outstanding, plus the number of such shares then reserved
for issuance upon the exercise of any outstanding options, warrants or rights or
the exercise of any conversion or exchange privilege contained in any
outstanding security issued by the Corporation.
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Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any other series of
Preferred Stock (or shares of any other class of capital stock of the
Corporation) ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to
dividends, the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, in preference
to the holders of shares of Common Stock and of any other class of capital stock
of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect
to dividends, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the
Board out of funds legally available therefor, such dividends, subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate
per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other
than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivision of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared
on the Common Stock. In the event the Company shall at any time after August 13,
1998 (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
(ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount
to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Board shall declare, out of funds legally available therefor, a
dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock, as provided in
paragraph (A) of this Section 2, immediately after it has declared a dividend or
distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of
Common Stock).
Section 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights required
by applicable law, the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
have the following voting rights:
(A) Each share of the Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of
the Corporation. The multiple of 100 (the "Voting Multiple") set forth in the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted from time to time as hereinafter provided
in this paragraph (A). In the event that the Corporation shall at any time after
the effective date of this Resolution of the Board ("Resolution") (i) declare or
pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or (ii)
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then, in each such case, the Voting Multiple thereafter applicable to the
determination of the number of votes per share to which the holders of shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled shall be the Voting Multiple in
effect immediately prior to such event multiplied by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
A-2
<PAGE> 41
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this Resolution, in any other
resolution establishing another series of Preferred Stock (or any series of any
other class of capital stock of the Corporation) or by applicable law, the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock and the
holders of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation having general
voting rights shall vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to
a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in this Resolution or by applicable law,
the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent provided in
paragraph (B) of this Section 3 for the taking of any corporate action).
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever dividends or other distributions payable on the Series A
Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until
all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full,
the Corporation shall not:
(i) Declare or pay dividends or make any other distributions
on any shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation) to the Series A Preferred Stock;
(ii) Declare or pay dividends, or make any other, on any shares of
any class of capital stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series
A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are accrued and
unpaid in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are then entitled;
(iii) Redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation) to the Series A Preferred Stock, except that the Corporation may at
any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of such junior stock
in exchange for other shares of any class of capital stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (both as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of the Corporation) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) Purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock or any shares of any class of capital stock of
the Corporation ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
or redeem any shares of such parity stock, except in accordance with a purchase
offer made in writing or by publication to the holders of all such shares upon
such terms
A-3
<PAGE> 42
and conditions as the Board, after taking into consideration the respective
annual dividend rates and the other relative powers, preferences and rights of
the respective series and classes of such shares, shall determine in good faith
will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective holders of
shares of all such series and classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of any class of
capital stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
(A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time
and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after such purchase or acquisition. All
such canceled shares shall thereupon become authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of any new series of Preferred
Stock, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in the
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, from time to time, in any
other resolution establishing another series of Preferred Stock (or any series
of any other class of capital stock of the Corporation) or in any applicable
law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation
(whether voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
no distribution shall be made (a) to the holders of shares of any class of
capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation) to the Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holder of each outstanding share of
the Series A Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to the accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of such payment, plus an amount equal to the greater of (i) $1.00, and (ii)
an aggregate amount, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided in this
Section 6, equal to 100 times the aggregate per share amount to be distributed
to the holders of Common Stock, or (b) to the holders of shares of any class of
capital stock of the Corporation ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation) with the Series
A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred
Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or
winding up. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time after the
effective date of this Resolution (a) declare or pay any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or (b) effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each
such case, the aggregate amount per share to which the holders of shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled to receive immediately prior
to such event pursuant to clause (a)(ii) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such aggregate per share amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator
A-4
<PAGE> 43
of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In the event that the Corporation
shall be a party to any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction
in which the outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted or changed into or
exchanged for other capital stock, securities, cash or other property, or any
combination thereof, then, in each such case, each share of the Series A
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly converted or changed into or
exchange for an aggregate amount, subject to adjustment as hereinafter provided
in this Section 7, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of capital stock,
securities, cash and/or other property (payable in kind), as the case may be,
into which or for which each share of Common Stock is being converted or changed
or exchanged. In the event that the Corporation shall at any time after the
effective date of this Resolution declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then, in each such case, the
aggregate amount per share to which the holders of shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock would have been entitled to receive immediately prior to such
event pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such
aggregate per share amount by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable at any time.
Section 9. Rank. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution establishing
another series of Preferred Stock after the effective date of this Resolution,
the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, as to the payment of dividends and the
making of any other distribution of assets of the Corporation, senior to the
Common Stock, but junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendments. The Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences and rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as
to adversely affect any rights of the holders thereof without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the
Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a single class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Fractional shares of the Series A Preferred
Stock may be issued, but, unless the Board shall otherwise determine, only in
multiples of one one-hundredth of a share. The holder of any fractional share of
the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, participate
in distributions, exercise voting rights and have the benefit of all other
powers, preferences and rights relating to the Series A Preferred Stock in the
same proportion as such fractional share bears to a whole share.
A-5
<PAGE> 44
Exhibit B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-__________________ _____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 12, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF PLEXUS CORP., AT
$.01 PER RIGHT, AND EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN SUCH SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A RESTRICTED PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN SUCH AGREEMENT), OR BY CERTAIN TRANSFEREES FROM A RESTRICTED PERSON,
SHALL BE OR BECOME VOID.
B-1
<PAGE> 45
Rights Certificate
PLEXUS CORP.
This certifies that ________________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles
the owner, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Shareholder
Rights Agreement dated as of August 13, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between
Plexus Corp., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and Firstar Trust Co., a
Wisconsin-chartered trust company (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of
Business on August 12, 2008, at the principal office of the Rights Agent or its
successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid and nonassessable
share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share
(the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a purchase price of $108.00 per one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Exercise Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and
the related Form of Certification of Status duly executed, together with such
signature guarantees and other documentation as the Rights Agent may reasonably
request. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (as well as
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased
upon the exercise of each Right) set forth above, and the Exercise Price set
forth above, are the numbers and the Exercise Price as of August 13, 1998, based
on the Preferred Shares as constituted on such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, such number of Rights (and/or such number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share) and such Exercise Price are subject to change and adjustment
upon the happening of certain events specified in the Rights Agreement.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective meanings specified in
the Rights Agreement.
From and after the first occurrence of a Flip-In Event, if the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate are Beneficially Owned by (i) a Restricted
Person, (ii) a transferee from a Restricted Person who becomes a transferee
after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee from a Restricted Person who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such, such Rights shall be or become void, and no holder hereof shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, to which Rights
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, powers,
obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Company, the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Under the circumstances set forth in
the Rights Agreement, the exercisability of the Rights represented hereby may be
temporarily suspended. The Rights Agreement is on file at the principal office
of the Company and at the principal office of the Rights Agent, and a copy will
be provided upon written request to the Secretary of the Company.
Upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, this Rights
Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, may be exchanged for one
or more Rights Certificates of like tenor
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<PAGE> 46
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase the same aggregate
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Rights evidenced by the
Rights Certificates so surrendered. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder hereof shall be entitled to receive, upon
surrender hereof, one or more Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate (i) may be redeemed, at the direction of the Board, at a
redemption price (subject to adjustment) of $.01 per Right (payable in cash,
shares of Common Stock of the Company or any other form of consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board), or (ii) under certain circumstances, may be
exchanged, in whole or in part, at the direction of the Board, for shares of
Common Stock of the Company or Preferred Shares at an exchange rate (subject to
adjustment) of one share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share per Right.
No fractional Preferred Share will be issued upon the exercise of any
Rights represented hereby (other than fractions which are a multiple of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made as provided in the Rights Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than the Preferred Shares, all as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
No holder, as such, of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
to receive dividends or other distributions on or to exercise any preemptive
rights with respect to, or shall be deemed for any other purpose to be the
holder of, the Preferred Shares or other shares of capital stock of any class of
the Company which may at any time be issuable upon exercise hereof; nor shall
anything contained herein or in the Rights Agreement be construed to confer upon
the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company,
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any other matter
submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to
any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement) or to receive
dividends, subscription rights or other distributions, until the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised, in whole or in
part, in accordance with the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Rights Certificate has been executed by the
Company by the duly authorized facsimile signature of a proper officer of the
Company and a facsimile of its corporate seal has been imprinted hereon and duly
attested by the duly authorized facsimile signature of a proper officer of the
Company.
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<PAGE> 47
Dated as of , .
--------------------------- -----
PLEXUS CORP.
By:
---------------------------------------
Peter Strandwitz, Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
- --------------------------------
Joseph D. Kaufman, Secretary
Countersigned:
FIRSTAR TRUST CO.
(AS RIGHTS AGENT)
By:
---------------------------------------
Authorized Signature
ATTEST:
- --------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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<PAGE> 48
[Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
____________________________
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate)
TO: PLEXUS CORP.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
(or other securities, cash or property) issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares be issued in the
name of:
Please print name and address: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number: _____________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights represented by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the remaining unexercised
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please print name and address: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number: _____________________________________
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<PAGE> 49
Dated: _______________________, _________
_____________________________________
Signature
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
Signature Guaranteed:___________________________________________________________
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<PAGE> 50
CERTIFICATION OF STATUS
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being exercised by or on
behalf of a Person who is or was a Restricted Person (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire, directly or indirectly, the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became a
Restricted Person.
Dated:_______________________ ________________________________________
Signature
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
Signature Guaranteed:___________________________________________________________
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<PAGE> 51
NOTICE
The signature(s) on the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase and
Certification of Status must correspond to the name written upon the face of
this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the Certification of Status set forth above is not completed,
the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights represented by this
Rights Certificate to be a Restricted Person (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), will not honor the Election to Purchase and will affix a
legend to such effect on this Rights Certificate and on any Rights Certificates
issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.
B-8
<PAGE> 52
[Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder
desires to transfer this Rights Certificate)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ______________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: _______________________ ____________________________________
Signature
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as
defined in SEC Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
Signature Guaranteed:___________________________________________________________
B-9
<PAGE> 53
CERTIFICATION OF STATUS
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned or
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was a Restricted Person (as
such term is defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it
[ ] did [ ] did not acquire, directly or indirectly, the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became a
Restricted Person.
Dated: _______________________ ____________________________________
Signature
Signatures must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as
defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
Signature Guaranteed:___________________________________________________________
NOTICE
The signature(s) on the foregoing Form of Assignment and Certification of
Status must correspond to the name written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or any change whatsoever.
In the event the Certification of Status set forth above is not completed,
the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights represented by this
Rights Certificate to be a Restricted Person (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement), will not honor the Assignment and will affix a legend to such
effect on this Rights Certificate and on any Rights Certificates issued in
exchange for this Rights Certificate.
B-10
<PAGE> 54
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
On August 13, 1998, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Plexus Corp.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to the holders of
record of the Common Stock at the Close of Business on August 27, 1998 (the
"Record Date"). Except as described below, each Right entitles the holder
thereof, at any time on or after the Business Day following the Distribution
date and prior to the earliest of the Close of Business on the "Final Expiration
Date" and the time at which such Rights are exchanged, to purchase from the
Company one one-hundredth of a share of the Company's Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the "Preferred Shares"),
at a price of $108.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, subject to
adjustment (the "Exercise Price"). The Rights may not be exercised until the
Business Day after the Distribution Date. The terms of the Rights are set forth
in the Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of August 13, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement") between the Company and Firstar Trust Co., as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent"). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective
meanings specified in the Rights Agreement.
1. Distribution Date; Transfer of Rights.
Initially, the Rights associated with the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date will be evidenced solely by the certificates for shares of
Common Stock, with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.
Certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered by or on behalf of the Company
after the Record Date and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date,
redemption of the Rights or the Final Expiration Date, either upon transfer of
outstanding shares, including certificates for shares of Common Stock which were
reacquired by the Company and then transferred, or original issuance of
additional shares of Common Stock, will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date, redemption of the
Rights or the Final Expiration Date, the Rights may be transferred only with the
associated shares of Common Stock and the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for shares of Common Stock, with or without a notation and whether
or not a copy of this Summary of Rights is attached thereto, shall constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
represented by such stock certificate.
The Rights will separate from the Common Stock upon the earliest to
occur of: (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the first
date on which there shall be, as determined by a majority of the Disinterested
Directors then in office in their sole discretion, a public announcement by the
Company or any Person that such Person has become an Acquiring Person and (ii)
the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later Business Day as
may be determined by action of the Board) after the commencement by any Person
(other than an Exempt
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<PAGE> 55
Person) of, or the first public announcement of the intention of any Person to
commence, a tender or exchange offer if, upon consummation thereof, such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (provided, however, that if such tender or exchange offer is canceled,
terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Distribution Date without the
purchase of any Common Stock, such offer shall be deemed for purposes of the
definition of "Distribution Date" never to have been commenced or publicly
announced). The earliest of the dates specified in clause (i) is the
"Distribution Date." After the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by separate certificates.
An "Acquiring Person" is any Person who or which, together with its
Affiliates and Associates, has become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but does not include (i) the Company,
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee stock ownership plan,
employee benefit plan or other compensation program or arrangement of the
Company or of any Subsidiary, (iv) any Person holding shares of Common Stock for
or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, program or arrangement set forth in
(iii) above, (v) any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the outstanding Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition of Common
Stock by the Company, until such time as such Person acquires additional Common
Stock, or (vi) any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person without any plan or
intent to seek or effect control of the Company if such Person promptly enters
into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest and thereafter promptly
divests such Common Stock so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock (the Persons specified in clauses
(i) through (iv) being herein collectively called "Exempt Persons"). A
"Disinterested Director" is any member of the Board who is not a Restricted
Person, or a representative or nominee of a Restricted Person, and who was a
member of the Board as of the date of the Rights Agreement, or any individual
who subsequently becomes a member of the Board and is not a Restricted Person or
a representative or nominee of a Restricted Person, if such Person's nomination
for election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the
Disinterested Directors then in office. A "Restricted Person" is an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof.
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to the
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date. Each share of Common Stock issued by the Company after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Final Expiration Date, including shares of
Common Stock issued by reason of the exercise of any option, warrant, right
(other than the Rights) or conversion or exchange privilege (other than the
Rights) or convertible or exchangeable security issued by the Company prior to
the Distribution Date, will be accompanied by a Right (unless the Board
expressly provides to the contrary at the time of issuance of any such option,
warrant, right or convertible or exchangeable security), and Rights Certificates
evidencing such Rights will be issued at the same time as the certificates for
the associated shares of Common Stock.
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<PAGE> 56
2. Terms of Preferred Shares.
The Preferred Shares receivable upon exercise of the Rights will not
be redeemable. Each Preferred Share will entitle the record holder thereof to
receive a preferential dividend equal to 100 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount
(payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than
in shares of Common Stock) declared on the Common Stock, adjusted to give effect
to any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock (a "Dilution
Event"). In the event of liquidation of the Company, the holder of each
Preferred Share will be entitled to receive a preferential liquidation payment
equal to the greater of $1.00 and 100 times the aggregate per share amount to be
distributed to the holders of the Common Stock, adjusted to give effect to any
Dilution Event, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions on such Preferred Share, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment. Each Preferred Share will entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Company, voting
together as a single class with the holders of the Common Stock and the holders
of any other class of capital stock having general voting rights, adjusted to
give effect to any Dilution Event. In the event of any merger, consolidation or
other transaction in which the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company
are exchanged for or converted into other capital stock, securities, cash or
other property, each Preferred Share will be similarly exchanged or converted
into 100 times the per share amount applicable to the Common Stock, adjusted to
give effect to any Dilution Event.
3. Exercise or Exchange of Rights Under Certain Circumstances.
In the event that (i) a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) a
Person (other than an Exempt Person) commences or publicly announces the
intention to commence a tender or exchange offer to become the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding (where the earliest of
such events shall be referred to as a "Flip-In Event"), proper provision will be
made so that the registered holder of each Right (other than Rights Beneficially
Owned by a Restricted Person or their designated transferees) will thereafter
have the right, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, exchanged or expire, to
acquire, upon exercise and payment of the Exercise Price, to receive the number
of shares of Common Stock which, at the time of the occurrence of such event,
will have a market value equal to two times the then current Exercise Price.
After a Flip-In Event, all rights which are, or (under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement) were, Beneficially Owned by a Restricted
Person or designated transferees therefrom, will be or become void. Under no
circumstances may a Right be exercised unless the Company's option to redeem the
Rights has expired.
At any time after a Flip-In Event and prior to the time that any
Person (other than an Exempt Person), together with its Affiliates and
Associates, has become the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the Board may direct that all or any part of the
outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than Rights which have become void) be
exchanged for shares of Common Stock at the exchange rate of one share of Common
Stock per Right, adjusted
C-3
<PAGE> 57
to give effect to any Dilution Event. Any partial exchange will be effected pro
rata among the registered holders of the Rights based upon the number of Rights
held.
If, on or after the occurrence of a Flip-In Event: (i) the Company
merges into or consolidates with an Interested Shareholder or, unless all
holders of the Common Stock are treated the same, another Person (with limited
designated exceptions); (ii) an Interested Shareholder or, unless all holders of
the Common Stock are treated the same, another Person (with limited exceptions)
merges into the Company and either (A) all or part of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company are converted into capital stock or other securities
of any other Person (or the Company), cash and/or other property, or (B) such
shares remain outstanding, unconverted and unchanged; or (iii) the Company sells
or transfers 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power in one or a
series of related transactions to an Interested Shareholder or, unless all
holders of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock are treated the
same, another Person (with limited exceptions); then proper provision will be
made so that the registered holder of each Right (other than Rights which have
become void) will thereafter have the right to acquire, upon exercise and
payment of the Exercise Price, the number of common shares of the acquiror (or
of another Person affiliated therewith) which, at the time of consummation of
such transaction, will have a market value equal to two times the then current
Exercise Price. An "Interested Shareholder" is any Restricted Person or any
Affiliate or Associate of any other Person in which such Restricted Person has
an interest, or any Person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of or in
concert with any such Restricted Person.
4. Adjustments to Exercise Price and Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise.
The Exercise Price payable and the number and kind of shares of
capital stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment
from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to the holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase Preferred
Shares at a price, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred
Shares with a conversion or exchange price, less than the then current market
price of the Preferred Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to the holders of
the Preferred Shares of cash, securities, evidences of indebtedness or other
property (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or options, warrants or rights (other than those referred to
in clause (ii) above). The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right also
are subject to adjustment in the event of a dividend on the Common Stock payable
in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of
the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
With certain specified exceptions, no adjustment in the Exercise Price
will be made until the cumulative adjustments required equal at least 1% of the
Exercise Price. The Company is not required to issue fractional Preferred Shares
(other than fractions which are multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share), but in lieu thereof the Company will make a cash payment
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<PAGE> 58
based upon the market value of the Preferred Shares on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of exercise.
5. Redemption of Rights.
At any time prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date and the
Final Expiration Date, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at the redemption price of $.01 per Right, adjusted to give effect to any
Dilution Event (the "Redemption Price"); provided, however, that, under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights may not be redeemed
unless there is more than one Disinterested Director in office and such
redemption is approved by at least a majority of such Disinterested Directors.
The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis
and with such conditions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may establish.
Immediately after action by the Board directing the redemption of the Rights,
the option to exercise the Rights will terminate, and thereafter each registered
holder of the Rights will only be entitled to receive the Redemption Price
therefor.
6. Amendment of the Rights.
Prior to the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement may be supplemented or amended by the Board in any manner. From and
after the Distribution Date, the Rights may be supplemented or amended by the
Board, without the approval of the holders of the Rights, in certain respects
which do not materially adversely affect, as determined by the Board, the
interests of such holders (excluding the interests of any Restricted Person);
provided, however, that the Rights Agreement cannot be amended to lengthen (i)
any time period unless such lengthening is approved by at least a majority of
the Disinterested Directors, and such lengthening is for the benefit of the
holders of the Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person,
Affiliate or Associate thereof), or (ii) any time period relating to when the
Rights may be redeemed if at such time the Rights are not then redeemable.
7. Miscellaneous.
The Rights will expire on the Close of Business on August 12, 2008
(the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or
the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company. Until a Right is
exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a shareholder of
the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to Form 8-A dated August 14, 1998. A copy of
the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein
by reference.
C-5
<PAGE> 1
Press Release dated August 14, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEXUS CORP. ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
NEENAH, WI, August 14, 1998 -- Plexus Corp. (Nasdaq:PLXS), a contract
provider of design, manufacturing and testing services to the electronics
industry, announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a Shareholder
Rights Plan designed to protect its shareholders from abusive takeover tactics
and to help preserve for its shareholders the long-term value of the Company.
"We believe this plan will serve the best interests of our
shareholders," said Peter Strandwitz, Chairman and Chief Executive of Plexus.
"It is intended to assure fair and equal treatment for all of our shareholders
in the event of a takeover and to encourage a potential acquirer to negotiate
with the board prior to attempting a takeover. The plan is designed to allow
the board to negotiate a fair price for all shareholders at the Company's true
long-term value should someone attempt to acquire Plexus."
Plexus said the Plan was not adopted in response to any takeover
attempt, and that the board is not aware of any such activity.
More than 1,700 other public corporations, including approximately half
of the Fortune 500, have adopted shareholder rights plans.
Under the Rights Plan, Plexus shareholders of record as of August 27,
1998, will be granted a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right for each
outstanding share of Plexus common stock. Subject to the terms of the Rights
Plan, each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-hundredth
of a share of Plexus' new series of preferred stock at an exercise price of
$108. Until the Rights become exercisable, outstanding Plexus stock
certificates will represent both shares of Plexus common stock and Rights (no
separate certificate will be issued for the Rights at this time). The Rights
<PAGE> 2
will trade with the shares of Plexus common stock until such time as they might
become exercisable.
The Rights would become exercisable 11 business days after any person
or group has acquired (or commenced or announced its intention to commence a
tender or exchange offer to acquire) 15% or more of Plexus common stock.
If any person acquires 15% or more of Plexus common stock, holders of
each Right, other than the acquiring person, will have the right, upon payment
of the exercise price, to purchase the number of shares of Plexus common stock
(in lieu of the preferred stock) which, at that time, have a market value of
two times the exercise price of a Right. At such time, the Plexus Board of
Directors may also exchange Rights, other than those held by the acquiring
person, in whole or in part for Plexus common stock at an exchange ratio of one
share of common stock per Right.
At any time after a person or group acquires 15% or more of Plexus
common stock, if Plexus is acquired in a merger or other business combination
or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, Rights
holders other than the acquiring person or group will have the right, upon
payment of the exercise price, to purchase that number of shares of common
stock of the acquiring company (in lieu of preferred shares) which, at the time
of the transaction, have market value equal to two times the exercise price
of a Right.
The Rights will expire on August 12, 2008. Details of the Rights
distribution will be contained in a "Summary of Rights" which will be mailed
to all Plexus shareholders of record as of August 27, 1998.
The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts
(such as statements in the future tense and statements including "believe",
"expect", "intend", "anticipate" and similar concepts) are forwarding-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to,
the risk that future action or inaction by
<PAGE> 3
the Board with respect to the Shareholder Rights Plan, including any future
decision relating to redemption of the Rights or amendments of the terms of the
Rights, could become the subject of litigation, the Company's ability to
integrate acquired operations, the Company's ability to secure new customers
and maintain its current customer base, the results of cost reduction efforts,
the adequate availability of components and related parts for production, the
risk of customer delays or cancellations in both on-going and new programs, the
effect of start-up costs of new programs and facilities, the effect of economic
conditions, the impact of increased competition and other risks detailed in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, Plexus provides product realization
services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the computer, medical,
industrial, telecommunications and transportation electronics industries. The
Company offers product development and design services, material procurement
and management, prototyping, assembly, testing, manufacturing, final system
box build and distribution.
For further information, please contact:
Thomas B. Sabol, Chief Financial Officer, 920.722.3451
or email at [email protected]
