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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
------------------------
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
System Software Associates, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 36-3144515
(State of Incorporation or Organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60661
(Address of Principal Executive Offices including Zip Code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange
to be so registered on which registered
None Not applicable
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [_]
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [_]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
.................... (if applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Rights to purchase Common Stock
(Title of class)
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
On February 1, 1999, the Board of Directors of System Software Associates,
Inc. (the "Company"), declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Common Stock, $.0033 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company to the stockholders of record at the close of business on February 12,
1999. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
share of Common Stock at a Purchase Price of $50.00 per share (the "Purchase
Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. All shares of Common Stock issued after February 12, 1999, but
prior to the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) will be issued with
Rights, and the Common Stock certificates representing such shares will contain
a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. The Rights will
separate from the Common Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the
earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that any individual,
firm, corporation, partnership or other entity (a "Person") or group of
affiliated or associated Persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding shares of
Common Stock (such Person or group being an "Acquiring Person" and the date of
the announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result
in a Person or group of affiliated or associated Persons beneficially owning 30%
or more of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates issued after February 12, 1999 and (ii) the surrender for transfer
of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on February 10, 2009, unless earlier
redeemed by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights if such shares are issued
pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under an employee benefit plan, or
upon the conversion of securities issued after adoption of the Rights Agreement.
Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, no other shares of
Common Stock issued after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
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After a Distribution Date, each Right entitles its holder, upon tendering
the Rights Certificate together with the Purchase Price, to receive one share of
the Company's Common Stock. The Purchase Price shall initially be set at $50.00,
but is subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of Rights Agreement.
In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger
with an Acquiring Person and its Common Stock remains outstanding and is not
changed or exchanged, (ii) an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) of 30% or more of the then outstanding shares
of Common Stock (except pursuant to (a) an offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock at a price and on terms which the majority of the members of the
Board of Directors who are not Acquiring Persons or their representatives or
nominees determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders or (b) a cash tender offer or an exchange offer
pursuant to which an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 85% or
more of the then Outstanding shares of Common Stock), (iii) an Acquiring Person
engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, an event
occurs which results in such Acquiring Person's ownership interest being
increased by more than 1%, at any time following the Distribution Date, each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) having a value equal to two times the product of (A) the
Purchase Price and (B) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Right prior to the events described in this paragraph
(initially, one). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence
of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. In addition, Rights are not
exercisable after the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until such
time as the Company's right of redemption (as set forth below) expires.
To illustrate the exercise of the Rights, at a Purchase Price of $50.00 per
Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related
parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $100 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $50. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$20 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 5
shares of Common Stock for $50.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
(other than a merger described in clause (i) of the second preceding paragraph
or a merger which follows an offer of the type described parenthetically in
clause (ii) of the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the product of (A) the
Purchase Price and (B) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Right prior to the events described in this paragraph. The
events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are
referred to as the "Triggering Events." In addition, Rights are not exercisable
after any Triggering Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption
(as set forth below) expires.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or
other
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securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization
of, the Common Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued; in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on
the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time until the later of (i) the Triggering Event or (ii) the
Distribution Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right, payable at the option of the Company, in cash,
shares of Common Stock or such other consideration as the Board of Directors may
determine. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption price per Right.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable following a Triggering Event for Common Stock (or other
consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the Acquiring company as
set forth above.
Other than those provisions relating to certain principal economic terms of
the Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, such provisions may be amended by the Board in order to cure
any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to shorten or lengthen any time period
under the Rights Agreement or to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring
Person); provided, however, that (i) no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable
and (ii) no other amendment relating to any other time period shall be made if
it would not protect, enhance or clarify the rights of the holders of the
Rights. The Company may amend the provisions of the Rights Agreement relating to
certain principal economic terms of the Rights only if (i) there has been no
Stock Acquisition Date; (ii) there has been no change in a majority
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of the directors resulting from a proxy or consent solicitation in which a
person or group who or which may become an Acquiring Person or cause a
Triggering Event participated in the solicitation; and (iii) the amendment will
not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights. The Company
shall not required to obtain the approval of any of the holders of the Rights to
amend the Rights Agreement.
Item 2. Exhibits.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Description
<C> <S>
1 Rights Agreement, dated as of February 11, 1999, between
System Software Associates, Inc. and First Chicago Trust
Company of New York (which includes as Exhibit A, the Form of
Rights Certificate and as Exhibit B, the Summary of Rights to
Purchase Common Stock) incorporated herein by reference to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 18,
1999.
</TABLE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
System Software Associates, Inc.
By: /s/ Kirk Isaacson
-------------------------------------
Kirk Isaacson
Secretary
Dated: February 18, 1999
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EXHIBIT 1
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SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
and
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
Rights Agent
--------------
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 11, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SECTION PAGE
- ------- ----
<S> <C>
1 Certain Definitions............................................ 1
2 Appointment Of Rights Agent.................................... 5
3 Issue Of Rights Certificates................................... 5
4 Form Of Rights Certificates.................................... 7
5 Countersignature and Registration.............................. 7
6 Transfer, Split Up, Combination And Exchange
Of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost Or Stolen Rights Certificates............................. 8
7 Exercise Of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration
Date Of Rights................................................. 9
8 Cancellation And Destruction Of Rights Certificates............ 11
9 Reservation And Availability Of Capital Stock.................. 11
10 Common Stock Record Date....................................... 12
11 Adjustment Of Purchase Price, Number And Kind Of
Shares Or Number Of Rights..................................... 13
12 Certificate Of Adjusted Purchase Price Or Number Of Shares..... 21
13 Consolidation, Merger Or Sale Or Transfer Of
Assets Or Earning Power........................................ 21
14 Fractional Rights And Fractional Shares........................ 25
15 Rights Of Action............................................... 25
16 Agreement Of Rights Holders.................................... 26
17 Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed A Stockholder............. 26
18 Concerning The Rights Agent.................................... 27
19 Merger Or Consolidation Or Change Of Name Of Rights Agent...... 27
20 Duties Of Rights Agent......................................... 28
21 Change Of Rights Agent......................................... 30
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
22 Issuance Of New Rights Certificates............................ 30
23 Redemption And Termination..................................... 31
24 Notice Of Certain Events....................................... 32
25 Notices........................................................ 33
26 Supplements And Amendments..................................... 33
27 Successors..................................................... 34
28 Determinations And Actions By The Board Of Directors, Etc...... 34
29 Benefits Of This Agreement..................................... 35
30 Severability................................................... 35
31 Governing Law.................................................. 35
32 Counterparts................................................... 35
33 Descriptive Headings........................................... 35
Exhibit A -- Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit B -- Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Stock
</TABLE>
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------------
THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of February 11, 1999,
between SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a national banking
association (the "Rights Agent").
R E C I T A L S
---------------
On February 1, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board of
Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one
Right for each share of common stock, par value $.0033 per share, of the Company
(the "Common Stock") outstanding at the close of business on February 12, 1999
(the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such
number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11
hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record
Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and
the Distribution Date and, in certain circumstances, after the Distribution
Date, each Right initially representing the right to purchase one share of
Common Stock of the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (the "Rights").
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of a Substantial Block of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall
not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan.
(b) "Act" shall have the meaning provided in Section 9(c).
(c) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning provided in Section
11(a)(ii)(C).
(d) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(e) "Agreement" shall have the meaning provided in the Preamble
hereof.
(f) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
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(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such
right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, other
rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own,"
(A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such
Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered
securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (B) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from
and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired
by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to
the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
"Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) hereof in connection
with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or
has "beneficial ownership" of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner"
of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as
a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such
security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely
from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and
(B) is not also then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such
Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for
the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph
(f)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company; provided,
however, that nothing in this paragraph (f) shall cause a Person engaged in
business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of,
or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the
expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition.
(g) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
a day on which banking institutions in the State of Illinois are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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(h) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Chicago, Illinois time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Chicago, Illinois time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(i) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.0033 per
share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person
with the greatest aggregate voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.
(j) "Company" shall have the meanings provided in the Preamble and in
Section 13(a).
(k) [Intentionally Omitted]
(l) "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning provided in Section
11(d).
(m) "Current Value" shall have the meaning provided in Section
11(a)(iii).
(n) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3(a).
(o) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning provided in Section 1(d).
(p) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section 7(a).
(q) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning provided in Section
7(a).
(r) "NASDAQ" shall have the meaning provided in Section 11(d).
(s) "Original Rights" shall have the meaning provided in Section
1(f)(i).
(t) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership
or other entity.
(u) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning provided in Section
13(b).
(v) "Purchase Price" shall have the meanings provided in Section 4(a),
Section 11(a)(ii)(C) and Section 13(a).
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(w) "Record Date" shall have the meaning provided in the Recitals
hereto.
(x) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning provided in Section
23(a).
(y) "Rights" shall have the meaning provided in the Recitals hereto.
(z) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning provided in the Preamble
hereto.
(aa) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3(a).
(bb) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning
provided in the Recitals hereto.
(cc) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) hereof.
(dd) "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning provided
in Section 11(a)(iii).
(ee) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(ff) "Spread" shall have the meaning provided in Section 11(a)(iii).
(gg) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(hh) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(ii) "Substantial Block" shall mean: (i) in the case of a Person who
or which, together with all Affiliates or Associates of such Person, on the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date is the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
shares of Common Stock (such Person being hereinafter referred to as a "Clause
(i) Person"), the percentage of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
such Clause (i) Person, together with all Affiliates or Associates of such
Clause (i) Person, on the Rights Dividend Declaration Date plus two percent (2%)
or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at any time; or (ii) in the
case of any Person who or which was an Affiliate or Associate of a Clause (i)
Person during such Clause (i) Person's lifetime, and who or which, immediately
after such Clause (i) Person's lifetime, and who or which, immediately after
such Clause (i) Person's death, remained or became the Beneficial Owner of some
or all of such Clause (i) Person's shares, the percentage which equals or
exceeds the percentage of shares beneficially owned by such Person, together
with all Affiliates or Association of such Person, immediately after the death
of such Clause (i) Person, or 20%,
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whichever is greater; or (iii) in all other cases, 20% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding.
(jj) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning provided in Section
11(a)(iii).
(kk) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning provided in Section
3(b).
(ll) "Trading Days" shall have the meaning provided in Section 11(d).
(mm) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the
Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or established by
the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or
sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof, such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which
certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for
Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of
Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon as practicable after
the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured,
postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close
of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for
each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In
the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock
has been made pursuant to Section 11 hereof, at the time of distribution of the
Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate
rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates representing only whole
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numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional
Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage prepaid
mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of business on
the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such
certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier
of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in
Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any certificates representing shares of
Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
which are issued (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22
hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such shares of
Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear
the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between System Software
Associates, Inc. (the "Company") and First Chicago Trust Company of New
York (the "Rights Agent") dated as of February 11, 1999 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this
certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy
of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without
charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefore. Under certain
circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held
by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate
or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement),
whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent
holder, may become null and void.
With respect to certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earlier
of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights associated
with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by
such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock shall also be the
registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with
the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
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Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and
of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially
in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any
rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be
dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase such number of shares of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein
at the per share exercise price set forth therein (the "Purchase Price") amount
and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the
Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person
or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which at least a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Company who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of
an Acquiring Person has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e)
hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11
hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights
Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible)
the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially
owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented
hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section
7(e) of such Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company
by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's
seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by
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facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by
the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agents and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent
and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though
the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the
Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution
Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any
Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of shares of Common Stock (or,
following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof,
countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
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(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock, other securities,
cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights
are then exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on
February 10, 2009 (the "Final Expiration Date"), or (ii) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the earlier of (i) and
(ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each share of Common Stock pursuant to the
exercise of a Right shall initially be $50.00, and shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and
shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per share of Common Stock (or Common Stock, other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an
amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is
the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of shares
of Common Stock to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes
its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall
have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of shares of
Common Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares
of Common Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary
agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the
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amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance
with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if
any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or
bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay
cash and/or distribute other assets pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash
and/or other assets are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and
when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent
and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such
holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which at least a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are not
representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null
and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any
rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure
that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or Person
as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an
Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner
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(or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request.
Section 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 any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of
the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall
deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved
and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or
out of its authorized and issued shares of Common Stock held in its treasury,
the number of shares of Common Stock that, as provided in this Agreement
including Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities
exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such
time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is
reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for
such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined pursuant to this Agreement (including
in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii) hereof), a registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") on an appropriate form, 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 at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier
of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such
securities, and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action
as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or
"blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of
the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to
exceed ninety days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence
of this Section 9(c) the exercisability, of the Rights in order to prepare and
file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been
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temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect stating the same. In addition, if the Company
shall determine that a registration statement is required following the
Distribution Date but prior to a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Company may
temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable, and shall be void so long as held, by a holder in any jurisdiction
where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such holder in such
jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or the exercise thereof shall not be
permitted under applicable law.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise
of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and
issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and
of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than
that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights
surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of
Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a
name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights
until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of
such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been
established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for shares of Common Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities,
as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Common Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Common Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the
Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable,
including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
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distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or
(D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification or
recapitalization of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification
in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the
continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this
Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the
time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be
entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the
aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock, other securities
and/or property, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior
to such date and at a time when the Common Stock transfer books of the
Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment
under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to,
and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) In the event:
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly: (1) shall merge into the Company or otherwise
combine with the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such merger or combination and the Common
Stock of the Company shall remain outstanding and shall not be changed
or exchanged; (2) shall, in one transaction or a series of
transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or to any of its
Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for equity or voting
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or for
securities exercisable for or convertible into equity or voting
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise
obtain from the Company, with or without consideration, any additional
equity or voting securities of the Company or securities exercisable
for or convertible into such equity or voting securities (other than
pursuant to a pro rata distribution to all holders of Common Stock);
(3) shall sell, purchase, lease,
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exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose
of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with
(as the case may be) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, assets on
terms and conditions less favorable to the Company than the Company
would be able to obtain in arm's-length negotiation with an
unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a transaction set
forth in Section 13(a) hereof; (4) shall sell, purchase, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose
of in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with
(as the case may be) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other
than in the ordinary course of business and incidental to the lines of
business, if any, engaged in as of the date hereof between the Company
and such Acquiring Person or Associate or Affiliate) assets having an
aggregate fair market value of more than 5% of the then total
consolidated assets of the Company other than pursuant to a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof; (5) shall receive any
compensation from, or otherwise charge for any services to, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than compensation at rates in
accordance with the Company's (or its Subsidiaries')past practices; or
(6) shall receive the benefit, directly or indirectly (except
proportionately as a stockholder and except if resulting from a
requirement of law or governmental regulation), of any loans,
advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax
credits or other tax advantage provided by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or
(B) any Acquiring Person, alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, unless the event causing the
30% threshold to be crossed is (I) a transaction set forth in Section
13(a) hereof; (II) an acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant
to a cash tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares
of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not
representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring
Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms, to be (1) at a price which is fair to stockholders (taking into
account all factors which such members of the Board deem relevant
including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be
achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis
designed to realize maximum value) and (2) otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders; or (III) an acquisition
of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a cash tender offer or an
exchange offer pursuant to which an Acquiring Person becomes, alone or
together with its Affiliates and Associates, the Beneficial Owner of
85% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, or
(C) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall
be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock
split) or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or
consolidation of the Company with any of its
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Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series of transactions
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not with
or into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person), other than a
transaction or transactions to which the provisions of Section 13(a)
apply, which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by
more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any
class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person,
then proper provision shall promptly be made so that each holder of a Right
(except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have
the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then-current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of shares
of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of shares of
Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the
first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that
product (which product, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter
be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes
of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price per Share of Common
Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares, the
"Adjustment Shares"); provided that the Purchase Price and the number of
Adjustment Shares shall be further adjusted as provided in this Agreement
to reflect any events occurring after the date of such first occurrence of
a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient authorized
but unissued Common Stock and authorized and issued shares of Common
Stock held in the treasury and not reserved for other purposes to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall:
(A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2)
the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect
to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for that number
of the Adjustment Shares as to which additional shares of Common Stock
have not been authorized for issuance, upon the exercise of such
Right, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other
equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation,
shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock which the Board of
Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value as shares
of Common Stock), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other
assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate
value (together with Adjustment Shares available for issuance) equal
to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined
by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not
have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B)
above within sixty (60) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the
Company's
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right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of
(x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(iii)
Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon
the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of
the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available)
and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an
aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that
sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for
issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the sixty day period set
forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than
one hundred twenty days after the Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date, in
order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the
authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be
extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company
determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or
second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company shall
provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and may suspend the exercisabilty
of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order
to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first
sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that
the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as
well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value
of the Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the
Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five calendar days
after such record date) Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common
Stock) at a price per share of Common Stock (or having a conversion price per
share of Common Stock, if a security convertible into Common Stock) less than
the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Common Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect on
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date,
plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of
the total number of shares of Common Stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid
by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than
cash, the value of
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such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights. Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account
of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such
computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record
date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to
all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic
cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets
(other than a dividend payable in Common Stock, but including any dividend
payable in stock other than Common Stock) or subscription rights or warrants
(excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be
in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the
fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so
to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one
share of Common Stock, and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market
Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common
Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date
is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market
Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market Price" per share of Common Stock on any
date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of
such Common Stock for the ten consecutive Trading Days immediately following
such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Market Price
per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period following the
announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such
Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the
requisite thirty Trading Day or ten Trading Day period, as set forth above,
after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date
for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such
case, the "Current Market Price" shall be properly adjusted to reflect such
dividend or distribution or subdivision, combination or reclassification, as the
case may be. The closing price for each day shall be the
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last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of
Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the Nasdaq National Market or other over-the-counter
market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if
on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making
a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted
to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or
traded, "Current Market Price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in
the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock
or other share. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall
become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common Stock,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Section 11, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Common
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase price, the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
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(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of shares of Common Stock
(calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the
number of shares covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y)
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the
Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.
Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights
shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record
prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of
Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may
be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but,
if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later
than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section
11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to
holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares which were
expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then stated value, if any, of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any
corporate action which may, in the
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opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the shares of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company,
if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of shares of
Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior
to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right
to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon
the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the
Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Common Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of
Common Stock at less than the Current Market Price, (iii) issuance wholly for
cash or shares of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, (iv) stock
dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock shall
not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the stockholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26 hereof, take
(or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is
taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action
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will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary hereof to
each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to
each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance
with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on
any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing
or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and
the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger,
all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other
property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than
50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as
a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case (except as may be contemplated by
Section 13(f) hereof), proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder
of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly
authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradable shares of
Common Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse
claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right
was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event
(or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of
a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such shares for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first
occurrence), and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price"
for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current
Market Price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the
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Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section
13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of
the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" as used in this
Agreement shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being
specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only
to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;
(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to,
the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section
11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any
Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y)
of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of
any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are
converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so
issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or consolidation;
and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, if the Common Stock of such Person is
not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act or such Person is not a
corporation, "Principal Party" shall refer to: (1) such other Person who or
which directly or indirectly controls such Person if the Common Stock of such
other Person is and has been so registered; (2) in the event that more than one
other Person directly or indirectly controls such Person and the Common Stocks
of one or more of such other Persons are and have been so registered, whichever
of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate
market value; or (3) in the event that one or more Persons directly or
indirectly controls such Person and the Common Stock of none of such other
Persons is and has been so registered, whichever controlling Person is the
corporation having the greatest stockholders' equity or, if no such controlling
Person is a corporation, whichever controlling Person has the greatest net
assets.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the
Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its
Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless
prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a legally valid, binding and enforceable
supplemental agreement in compliance with the terms set forth in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this
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Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of
any such Section 13 Event, the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after
such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply
in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in Section 13(b) and (c) to the contrary,
if the Principal Party as determined pursuant to paragraph (b) above is not a
corporation or does not have shares of Common Stock, proper provision shall be
made so that such Principal Party shall create or otherwise make available for
purposes of the exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, cash or a type or types of securities having a fair market value (as
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company) equal to at least the value of the shares of
Common Stock which each holder of a Right would have been entitled to receive if
such Principal Party had been a corporation or had shares of Common Stock.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a cash tender
offer or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which
complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof (or a wholly owned
Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per share of Common
Stock offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common
Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased
pursuant to such cash tender or exchange offer; and (iii) the form of
consideration being offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock
pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid
pursuant to such cash tender or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such
transaction contemplated by this Section 13(f), all Rights hereunder shall
expire.
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Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11 hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have
been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be
the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such
day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either
case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Value of a share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Current Market Value of
one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof as of the Trading Day
immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by accepting the same expressly waives his
right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of
a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificates and in this Agreement. Without limiting the
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foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder,
as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Common Stock or any other securities
of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or
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subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the corporate trust 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, however, that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in
the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
26
<PAGE>
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties
and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the written advice or opinion of such counsel
shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as
to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such
written advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
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 or be required to verify the same (except as to its
countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and
recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect
of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except
the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or
execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it
be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or
Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such
adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any
such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by
any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or other securities
to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to
whether any shares of Common Stock or other securities will, when so issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
27
<PAGE>
(f) The Company agrees that it will inform the Rights Agent promptly
upon its determination that a Person has become an Acquiring Person and the
Rights Agent will not be responsible for determining the status of a Person as
an Acquiring Person prior to such notification, except as such status may be
explicitly indicated in the form of assignment or form of election to purchase,
as the case may be, contained on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate. The
Company further agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or
cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and
other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the
Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the
provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby directed to accept instructions with
respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and is
authorized to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection
with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
officer.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become peculiarly interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided, however, that reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each
transfer agent of the Common Stock, by
28
<PAGE>
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be
removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint
a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of Illinois (or of
any other state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized
to do business as a banking institution in the State of Illinois, in good
standing, having a principal office in the State of Illinois, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $100,000,000) or (b) an Affiliate of an institution described in the prior
clause. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock,
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21,
however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance
or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to
the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect
to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange or securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b)
may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however,
that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
the Company shall be advised by counsel that
29
<PAGE>
such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax
consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would
be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate need be issued if, and to the
extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of
the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time prior to the earlier of (i) the Final Expiration Date, or (ii) the later to
occur of (A) Distribution Date, or (B) a Triggering Event, redeem all but not
less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split,
stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"), and
the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of
Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section 11(d)
hereof, of the shares of Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other
form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Company's Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event until
such time as the Company's right of redemption set forth in the first sentence
of this Section 23(a) has expired.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been
filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder
30
<PAGE>
receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by
which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to
the holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out
of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the
holders of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase
any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or
any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Common Stock (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Common Stock), or
(iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to
permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other
transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more
than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company
and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the
Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent
feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of
such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on
which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer,
liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of
participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if any
such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of
any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty days prior
to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock
for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least twenty days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common
Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in any such
case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance
with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which
shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
Section 25. 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 holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as
follows:
System Software Associates, Inc.
500 West Madison Street
31
<PAGE>
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Except as otherwise provided herein, subject to the provisions of Section 21,
any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company)
as follows:
First Chicago Trust Company of New York
525 Washington Boulevard, Suite 4660
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310
Attention: Corporation Actions
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 holder
of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder
of certificates representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given
or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder
at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date and
subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company may and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates
representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the Distribution Date and
subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 26, the Company may and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this
Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order
(i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein,
(iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or
supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem
necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of Rights Certificates (other than any Acquiring Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time
period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights
are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such lengthening is
for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the
benefits to, the holders of Rights (other than any Acquiring Person or any of
its Associates or Affiliates). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made
which changes the Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date, the Purchase
Price or the number of shares of
32
<PAGE>
Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable, unless at the time of such
supplement or amendment there has been no occurrence of an event set forth in
clauses (A) or (B) of the proviso to Section 23(a) and such supplement or
amendment shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
Certificates (other than any Acquiring Person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates). Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of
Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common
Stock.
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. For
all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Stock of which
any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) by final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary,
33
<PAGE>
if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the
Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language
from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this
Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be
reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth day
following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware 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.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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.
SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
Attest:
By By
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: Name:
-------------------------- --------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------- -------------------------
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
Attest:
By By
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Name: Name:
-------------------------- --------------------------
Title: Title:
------------------------- -------------------------
34
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
---------
[Form of Rights Certificate]
--------------------------
Certificate No. R- ______ Rights
- ------------------ ------
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER FEBRUARY 10, 2009 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
IS GIVEN BY THE COMPANY TO THE RIGHTS AGENT. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND
ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE
OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON. ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED
IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
- -----------------
* The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable.
1
<PAGE>
SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
--------------------------------
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
This certifies that _______________________________________, or his, her or
its registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set
forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of February 11, 1999
(the "Rights Agreement"), between System Software Associates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, a
national banking association (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company
at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (Chicago, Illinois time) on February 10, 1999, at
the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its
successors as Rights Agent, one fully paid, non-assessable share of Common
Stock, $.0033 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, at a purchase
price of $50.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and
related Certificate duly executed. The Purchase Price shall be paid in cash. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate set forth above, the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise thereof,
and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the numbers and Purchase
Price as of February 11, 1999, based on the Common Stock as constituted at such
date.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is defined
in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a
person who, concurrently with or after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become
null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such
Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price, the number and
kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the office of the Rights Agent and
are also available upon written request to the Company.
1
<PAGE>
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with such exchange, for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date
evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock or other securities or property as the Rights evidenced
by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled
such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part,
the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof and payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with such exchange, another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates
for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option, at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right, payable, at the election of the Company, in cash,
shares of Common Stock or such other consideration as the Board of Directors may
determine, at any time prior to the earlier of the close of business on (i) the
later to occur of (A) the Distribution Date or (B) the Triggering Event (as such
time period may be extended or shortened pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and
(ii) the Final Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement).
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate as such shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
2
<PAGE>
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated as of , 1999
----------
SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
ATTEST: By:
--------------------------------
Name:
----------------------------
Title:
- -------------------------------- ---------------------------
Secretary
Countersigned:
FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK
By:
-----------------------------
Authorized Signature
3
<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder
desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
------------------------------------------------------------
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
--------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint___________________________
______________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated: , 19
---------- --
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [_] is [_] is not being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [_]
did [_] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19
---------- --
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if the holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ________ Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of
and delivered to:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
---------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
----------------------------------------------------
Dated: , 19
--------- --
------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
Certificate
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [_] are [_] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it [_]
did [_] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , 19
---------- --
-----------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE:
------
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
---------
SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES, INC.
-------------------------------
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
COMMON STOCK
On February 1, 1999, the Board of Directors of System Software Associates,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Common Stock, $.0033 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company to the stockholders of record at the close of business on February 12,
1999. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
share of Common Stock at a Purchase Price of $50.00 per share (the "Purchase
Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. All shares of Common Stock issued after February 12, 1999, but
prior to the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) will be issued with
Rights, and the Common Stock certificates representing such shares will contain
a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. The Rights will
separate from the Common Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the
earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that any individual,
firm, corporation, partnership or other entity (a "Person") or group of
affiliated or associated Persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding shares of
Common Stock (such Person or group being an "Acquiring Person" and the date of
the announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business days
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result
in a Person or group of affiliated or associated Persons beneficially owning 30%
or more of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock
certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates issued after February 12, 1999 and (ii) the surrender for transfer
of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such
certificate. The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date and
will expire at the close of business on February 10, 2009, unless earlier
redeemed by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates
will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights, Shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights if such shares are issued
pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under an employee benefit plan, or
upon the conversion of securities issued after adoption of the Rights Agreement.
Except as otherwise
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<PAGE>
determined by the Board of Directors, no other shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
After a Distribution Date, each Right entitles its holder, upon tendering
the Rights Certificate together with the Purchase Price, to receive one share of
the Company's Common Stock. The Purchase Price shall initially be set at $50.00,
but is subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of Rights Agreement.
In the event that (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger
with an Acquiring Person and its Common Stock remains outstanding and is not
changed or exchanged, (ii) an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) of 30% or more of the then outstanding shares
of Common Stock (except pursuant to (a) an offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock at a price and on terms which the majority of the members of the
Board of Directors who are not Acquiring Persons or their representatives or
nominees determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders or (b) a cash tender offer or an exchange offer
pursuant to which an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 85% or
more of the then Outstanding shares of Common Stock), (iii) an Acquiring Person
engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, an event
occurs which results in such Acquiring Person's ownership interest being
increased by more than 1%, at any time following the Distribution Date, each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) having a value equal to two times the product of (A) the
Purchase Price and (B) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Right prior to the events described in this paragraph
(initially, one). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence
of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under
certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially
owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. In addition, Rights are not
exercisable after the occurrence of any of the events set forth above until such
time as the Company's right of redemption (as set forth below) expires.
To illustrate the exercise of the Rights, at a Purchase Price of $50.00 per
Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related
parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $100 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $50. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$20 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase 5
shares of Common Stock for $50.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i)
the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
(other than a merger described in clause (i) of the second preceding paragraph
or a merger which follows an offer of the type described parenthetically in
clause (ii) of the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50% or more of the
Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the product of (A) the
Purchase Price and (B) the number of
2
<PAGE>
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Right prior to the
events described in this paragraph. The events set forth in this paragraph and
in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering Events." In
addition, Rights are not exercisable after any Triggering Event until such time
as the Company's right of redemption (as set forth below) expires.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization
of, the Common Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued; in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on
the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time until the later of (i) the Triggering Event or (ii) the
Distribution Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part,
at a price of $.01 per Right, payable at the option of the Company, in cash,
shares of Common Stock or such other consideration as the Board of Directors may
determine. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the
holders of Rights will be to receive the $.01 redemption price per Right.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable following a Triggering Event for Common Stock (or other
consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the Acquiring company as
set forth above.
Other than those provisions relating to certain principal economic terms of
the Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, such provisions may be
3
<PAGE>
amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement or to make
changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person); provided, however, that (i)
--------
no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall be made at
such time as the Rights are not redeemable and (ii) no other amendment relating
to any other time period shall be made if it would not protect, enhance or
clarify the rights of the holders of the Rights. The Company may amend the
provisions of the Rights Agreement relating to certain principal economic terms
of the Rights only if (i) there has been no Stock Acquisition Date; (ii) there
has been no change in a majority of the directors resulting from a proxy or
consent solicitation in which a person or group who or which may become an
Acquiring Person or cause a Triggering Event participated in the solicitation;
and (iii) the amendment will not adversely affect the interests of the holders
of the Rights. The Company shall not required to obtain the approval of any of
the holders of the Rights to amend the Rights Agreement.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
February 18, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
which is incorporated herein by reference.
4
