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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware 13-3408028
(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Securities to be pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange on which each
Title of each class to be so registered class is to be registered
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Series A Participating Cumulative New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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<PAGE>
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
On October 26, 1999, the Board of Directors of Burns International
Services Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred stock
purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Voting Common Stock"), and Series I Non-Voting Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (together with the Voting Common Stock, the
"Common Stock"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on November 8, 1999
(the "Record Date") to holders of record as of the close of business on that
date.
Prior to the Distribution Date (as defined below), the Rights will be
evidenced by the certificates for and will be transferred with the Common Stock,
and the registered holders of the Common Stock will be deemed to be the
registered holders of the Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent
will mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights to each record holder of
the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and
thereafter the Rights will be transferable separately from the Common Stock. The
"Distribution Date" generally means the earlier of (i) the close of business on
the 10th day after the date (the "Stock Acquisition Date") of the first public
announcement that a person (other than the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such subsidiary) has acquired
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(an "Acquiring Person") and (ii) the close of business on the 10th business day
(or such later day as may be designated before any person has become an
Acquiring Person by the Board of Directors) after the date of the commencement
of a tender or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated, result
in such person becoming an Acquiring Person.
Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will not be exercisable. After
the Distribution Date (but before any person has become an Acquiring Person),
each Right will be exercisable to purchase, for $55.00 (the "Purchase Price"),
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). The terms and
conditions of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of October
29, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agreement").
If any person has become an Acquiring Person (but before the occurrence of
any of the events described in the second succeeding paragraph), each Right
(other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and certain
affiliated persons) will entitle the holder to purchase after the Distribution
Date, for the Purchase Price, a number of shares of Voting Common Stock having a
market value of twice the Purchase Price.
At any time after any person has become an Acquiring Person (but before
any person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock or the occurrence of any of the events described in the next
paragraph), the Board of Directors may exchange all or part of the Rights (other
than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person and certain affiliated
persons) for shares of Voting Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of
Voting Common Stock per Right.
If, after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (1) the Company is
involved in a merger or other business combination in which the Company is not
the surviving corporation or its Common Stock is exchanged for other securities
or assets or (2) the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries sell or
otherwise transfer assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
then each Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
and certain affiliated persons) will entitle the holder to purchase after the
Distribution Date, for the Purchase Price, a number of shares of common stock of
the other party to such business combination or sale (or in certain
circumstances, an affiliate) having a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
The Board of Directors may redeem all of the Rights at a price of $0.01
per Right at any time before any person has become an Acquiring Person.
The Rights will expire on November 8, 2009, unless earlier exchanged or
redeemed.
Page 2 of 4
<PAGE>
For so long as the Rights are redeemable, the Rights Agreement may be
amended in any respect. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable,
the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect that does not adversely
affect Rights holders (other than any Acquiring Person and certain affiliated
persons), cause the Rights Agreement to become amendable other than in
accordance with this sentence or cause the Rights again to become redeemable.
Rights holders have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including
the right to vote and to receive dividends.
The Rights Agreement includes antidilution provisions designed to prevent
efforts to diminish the effectiveness of the Rights.
As of October 25, 1999 there were 19,631,816 shares of Voting Common Stock
outstanding, 0 shares of Series I Non-Voting Common Stock outstanding and
700,000 shares of Voting Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's
stock option plans. Each outstanding share of Common Stock on the Record Date
will receive one Right. Shares of Common Stock issued after the Record Date and
prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with a Right attached so that all
shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the Distribution Date will have
Rights attached. 750,000 shares of Preferred Stock have been reserved for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause
substantial dilution to a person that attempts to acquire the Company without a
condition to such an offer that a substantial number of the Rights be acquired
or that the Rights be redeemed or declared invalid. The Rights should not
interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board of
Directors since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company as described above.
While the dividend of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to
the Company, stockholders or the Company may, depending upon the circumstances,
recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable as set
forth above.
The foregoing description of the Rights Agreement is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement, which is
attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits
1. Rights Agreement dated as of October 29, 1999 between Burns International
Services Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, which
includes the Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the Form of Right Certificate as
Exhibit B and the Summary of Terms of the Rights Agreement as Exhibit C.
Page 3 of 4
<PAGE>
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.
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert E. T. Lackey
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Name: Robert E. T. Lackey
Title: Vice President and Secretary
Dated: November 5, 1999
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of
October 29, 1999
between
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
as Rights Agent
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
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SECTION 1. Definitions........................................................1
SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent........................................6
SECTION 3. Issue of Right Certificates........................................6
SECTION 4. Form of Right Certificates.........................................8
SECTION 5. Countersignature and Registration..................................8
SECTION 6. Transfer and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates....................9
SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.....10
SECTION 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates................................11
SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.....................12
SECTION 10. Preferred Stock Record Date.......................................13
SECTION 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
or Number of Rights............................................14
SECTION 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares........22
SECTION 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power..................................................22
SECTION 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares...........................25
SECTION 15. Rights of Action..................................................27
SECTION 16. Agreement of Right Holders........................................27
SECTION 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.................28
SECTION 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.......................................28
SECTION 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agents.........................................................29
SECTION 20. Duties of Rights Agent............................................30
SECTION 21. Change of Rights Agent............................................33
SECTION 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates................................34
SECTION 23. Redemption........................................................34
SECTION 24. Exchange..........................................................34
SECTION 25. Notice of Proposed Actions........................................35
SECTION 26. Notices...........................................................37
SECTION 27. Supplements and Amendments........................................37
SECTION 28. Successors........................................................37
SECTION 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc......................37
SECTION 30. Benefits of this Agreement........................................38
SECTION 31. Severability......................................................38
SECTION 32. Governing Law.....................................................38
SECTION 33. Counterparts......................................................38
SECTION 34. Descriptive Headings..............................................38
<PAGE>
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock
Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary Description of the Stockholder Rights Plan
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of October 29, 1999 between Burns International
Services Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company), and The Bank of New
York, a New York banking corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"),
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on October 26, 1999 the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase
right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined)
outstanding at the close of business on November 8, 1999 (the "Record Date") and
has authorized the issuance, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth, of one Right (subject to adjustment) in respect of each
share of Common Stock issued after the Record Date, each Right representing the
right to purchase, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth, one one-hundredth (subject to adjustment) of a share of Preferred Stock
(as hereinafter defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"Acquiring Person" means any Person who, together with all Affiliates
and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of
the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include an Exempt
Person; provided, however, that (a) if the Board determines in good faith that a
Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" became the Beneficial Owner
of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise qualify such Person as an
"Acquiring Person" inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (i)
such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock
that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person" or (ii) such
Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but
had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under
this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of
the Company, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an
"Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such
Person shall have failed to divest itself, as soon as practicable (as
determined, in good faith, by the Board), of Beneficial Ownership
<PAGE>
of a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no
longer otherwise qualify as an "Acquiring Person"; and (b) no Person shall
become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of any acquisition of shares of
Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
by reason of such share acquisition by the Company and shall thereafter become
the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock (other than
pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Stock or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the
outstanding Common Stock), then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" unless upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of
Common Stock such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" have the respective meanings ascribed to
such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed
to have "Beneficial Ownership" of and to "beneficially own", any securities:
(a) which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates,
directly or indirectly, beneficially owns (as determined pursuant to
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof);
(b) which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates,
directly or indirectly, has
(i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only upon the occurrence of certain events or the
passage of time or both) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, rights, 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 or on
behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for
purchase,
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(B) securities which such Person has a right to acquire upon the
exercise of Rights at any time prior to the time that any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person or (C) securities issuable upon the
exercise of Rights from and after the time that any Person becomes
an Acquiring Person if such 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
("Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(p)
with respect to an adjustment to Original Rights; or
(ii) the right to vote (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only upon the occurrence of certain events or the
passage of time or both) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing) or otherwise; provided
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own", any security under this clause (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 or consent given in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the applicable 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
(c) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) and with respect
to which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with
respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose
of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or
consent as described in subparagraph (b)(ii) immediately above) or
disposing of any such securities;
provided, however, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned", including, without limitation, in a fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt
Person or by any other such officer, director or employee of an Exempt Person.
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<PAGE>
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated
by law or executive order to close.
"close of business" on any given date means 5:00 P.M., New York City
time, on such date; provided that if such date is not a Business Day "close of
business" means 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business
Day.
"Common Stock" means the Voting Common Stock and the Series I NonVoting
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, except that, when used
with reference to any Person other than the Company, "Common Stock" means the
capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management, of such Person.
"Distribution Date" means the earlier of (a) the close of business on
the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date and (b) the close of business on
the tenth Business Day (or such later day as may be designated prior to the
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by action of the Board) after the date
of the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any Person if, upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be an Acquiring Person; provided,
however, that if either of such dates occurs after the date of this Agreement
and on or prior to the Record Date, then the Distribution Date shall be the
Record Date.
"Exempt Person" shall mean (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, in each case including, without limitation, in its fiduciary capacity,
or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company,
or any entity or trustee holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan or funding other
employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or (ii) the Merrill Lynch Entities; provided, however, that the Merrill
Lynch Entities shall not be an Exempt Person:
(a) from and after the first date on which the Merrill Lynch Entities
beneficially own less than 15% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; or
(b) if, prior to such date, the Merrill Lynch Entities acquire, after
the date of this Agreement, beneficial ownership of additional shares of Common
Stock (other than shares of Common Stock acquired (x) in the ordinary course of
business, and not with the purpose or intent of changing or influencing the
control or management of the Company, by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. or its
affiliates that qualify for filings on Schedule 13G under Exchange Act Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(A)-
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(E)) or (y) as a result of the Company paying a dividend on the outstanding
shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdividing the
outstanding Common Stock into a larger number of shares).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Expiration Date" means the earlier of (a) the Final Expiration Date
and (b) the time at which all Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 or
exchanged as provided in Section 24.
"Final Expiration Date" means the close of business on November 8,
2009.
"Merrill Lynch Entities" means Merrill Lynch Capital Appreciation
Partnership No. VIII, L.P., ML IBK Positions, Inc., Merchant Banking L.P. No. 1,
ML Venture Partners II, L.P., ML Offshore LBO Partnership No. VIII, Merrill
Lynch KECALP L.P. 1986, Merrill Lynch KECALP L.P. 1987, ML Employees LBO
Partnership No. I, L.P. and any other Affiliates of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
which own Common Stock on the date of this Agreement.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust or any other entity or organization.
"Preferred Stock" means the Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, having the terms set forth in
the form of certificate of designation attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Purchase Price" means the price (subject to adjustment as provided
herein) at which a holder of a Right may purchase one one-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment as provided herein) upon exercise of a
Right, which price shall initially be $55.00.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" means any event described in the first clause
of Section 11(a)(ii).
"Section 13 Event" means any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z)
of Section 13(a).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Stock Acquisition Date" means the date of the first public
announcement (including, without limitation, the filing of a report on Schedule
13D or 13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report)) by
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the Company or an Acquiring Person indicating that an Acquiring Person has
become such.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means any other Person of which securities
or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power, in the absence of
contingencies, to elect a majority of the board of directors or other Persons
performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by
such first Person.
"Trading Day" means 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.
"Triggering Event" means any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any Section 13
Event.
"Voting Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company.
SECTION 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon 10 days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent.
The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be
liable for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent. If the Company
appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent
and any Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine.
SECTION 3. Issue of Right Certificates. (a) Prior to the Distribution
Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the penultimate sentence of
this Section 3(a)) by the certificates for the Common Stock and not by separate
Right Certificates (as hereinafter defined) and the registered holders of the
Common Stock shall be deemed to be the registered holders of the associated
Rights, and (ii) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the
transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after
the Record Date, the Company will send a copy of the Summary of Rights
substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, 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 Common Stock outstanding as of the
Record Date, prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates registered in
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<PAGE>
the names of the holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights.
Prior to the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, the Expiration Date), the
surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the
Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock
represented thereby.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Company has notified the Rights
Agent of the occurrence of the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send, at
the Company's expense, 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 (other than any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof), at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one
or more Right Certificates evidencing one Right (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) for each share of Common Stock so held. If an adjustment in the
number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11,
the Company shall, at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, make
the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section
14(a)) so that Right Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are
distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. From and after
the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date or issued (on original issuance or out of
treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
Expiration Date, the Company (i) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock
so issued or sold (x) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement or (y) upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
other securities issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date and (ii)
may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue
Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that no such Right Certificate
shall be issued if, and to the extent that, (i) the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Right Certificate
would be issued or (ii) appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in
lieu of the issuance thereof.
(d) Certificates issued for Common Stock after the Record Date but
prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following
legend:
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This certificate also evidences certain Rights as set forth in a Rights
Agreement between Burns International Services Corporation and The Bank
of New York, as Rights Agent, dated as of October 29, 1999 and as
amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on
file at the principal executive offices of the Company. The Company
will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights
Agreement without charge promptly after receipt of a written request
therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights may be evidenced by separate certificates and no
longer be evidenced by this certificate, may be redeemed or exchanged
or may expire. As set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to,
or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or an
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 be null and void.
SECTION 4. Form of Right Certificates. The certificates evidencing the
Rights (and the forms of assignment, election to purchase and certificates to be
printed on the reverse thereof) (the "Right Certificates") shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit B 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, rule or regulation 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. The Right Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the
Record Date. The Rights Certificates shall be in a form reasonably satisfactory
to the Rights Agent.
SECTION 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Right
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 facsimile signature. The Right Certificates
shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company whose
manual or facsimile signature is affixed to the Right Certificates shall cease
to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent
and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates may,
nevertheless, be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered with
the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Right
Certificates had not
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ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the place for
surrender of Right Certificates upon exercise, transfer or exchange, books for
registration and transfer of the Right Certificates. Such books shall show with
respect to each Right Certificate the name and address of the registered holder
thereof, the number of Rights indicated on the certificate and the certificate
number.
SECTION 6. Transfer and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. (a) At any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or
Certificates may, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, be transferred or exchanged for another Right Certificate or
Certificates evidencing a like number of Rights as the Right Certificate or
Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer or exchange
any Right Certificate or Certificates shall surrender such Right Certificate or
Certificates (with, in the case of a transfer, the form of assignment and
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.
Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action
whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right
Certificate or Certificates until the registered holder of the Rights has
complied with the requirements of Section 7(e). Upon satisfaction of the
foregoing requirements, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(d), 14 and
24, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate
or Certificates as so requested. The Company may require payment by the holders
of the Rights of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange of any Right Certificate or Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate, if mutilated, the Company will issue and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like
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tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
SECTION 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights. (a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the
Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein, including
Sections 7(d), 7(e), 9(c), 11(a), 23 and 24) in whole or in part at any time
after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date upon surrender of
the Right 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 (in lawful money of the United States of America by certified check or
bank draft payable to the order of the Company) of the aggregate Purchase Price
with respect to the Rights then to be exercised and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax or other governmental charge.
(b) Upon satisfaction of the requirements of Section 7(a) and subject
to Section 20(k), the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition
from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent therefor) certificates for the total number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred 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 shares of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights with a depositary agent,
requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing interests
in such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be
purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred 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 amount of cash, if any,
to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section
14 and (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts and cash,
if any, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate (with such certificates or receipts registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder). If the Company is
obligated to deliver Common Stock, other securities or assets pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities and assets are available for delivery by the Rights Agent, if and
when appropriate.
(c) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing the number of Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered holder of
such Right Certificate,
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registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to
the provisions of Section 14.
(d) 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 (or
any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person (or in any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with
whom the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(d)
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
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(d) are
complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates
or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with
respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates and Associates or any
transferee of any of them hereunder.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder of Rights upon the occurrence of any
purported transfer pursuant to Section 6 or exercise pursuant to this Section 7
unless such registered holder (i) shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment or election to purchase, as the
case may be, set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered
for such transfer or exercise, as the case may be, (ii) shall not have indicated
an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof and (iii) 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.
SECTION 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates. All Right Certificates
surrendered for exercise, transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to the
Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for
cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall
be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof
except as expressly
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permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for
cancellation, and the Rights Agent shall cancel, any other Right Certificate
purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.
The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company.
SECTION 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. (a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept
available a number of shares of Preferred Stock which are authorized but not
outstanding or otherwise reserved for issuance sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of all outstanding Rights as provided in this Agreement.
(b) So long as the Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of
Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become
exercisable, all securities reserved for such issuance to be listed on any such
exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts (i) to file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event as of which the consideration to be delivered by the Company
upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section
11(a)(iii), or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as
the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect
to the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) to cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and (iii) to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with
a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities 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 90 days after the date set forth in clause 9(c)(i), 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, in each case with simultaneous written notice to the Rights
Agent, stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. Notwithstanding any such provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable for securities in any jurisdiction
if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been
obtained, such exercise therefor shall not be permitted under applicable law or
a registration statement in respect of such securities shall not have been
declared effective. The Rights Agent may, unless otherwise advised by
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<PAGE>
the Company, assume that any Right exercised is permitted to be exercised under
applicable law and shall have no liability for acting in reliance upon such
assumption.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to insure that all one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery
of the certificates for such securities (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 other governmental
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right
Certificates and of any certificates for Preferred Stock upon the exercise of
Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax or
other governmental charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer
involved in the issuance or delivery of any Right Certificates or of any
certificates for Preferred Stock to a Person other than the registered holder of
the applicable Right Certificate, and prior to any such transfer, issuance or
delivery any such tax or other governmental charge shall have been paid by the
holder of such Right Certificate or it shall have been established to the
Company's satisfaction that no such tax or other governmental charge is due.
SECTION 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each Person (other than the
Company) in whose name any certificate for Preferred Stock is issued upon the
exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of
record of such Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate
shall be dated the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights
was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any transfer taxes
or other governmental charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of
such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the
Company relating to the Preferred Stock are closed, such Person shall be deemed
to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall
be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the applicable transfer
books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced
thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights
of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights
shall be exercisable, including the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to
receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company except as provided herein.
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<PAGE>
SECTION 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights. (a) (i) If the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) pay a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of
Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock into a greater
number of shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller
number of shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a
reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in
connection with a consolidation or merger involving the Company), the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to the record date for such dividend or the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other capital stock issuable on
such date shall be proportionately adjusted so that each holder of a Right shall
(except as otherwise provided herein, including Section 7(d)) thereafter be
entitled to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such date, the aggregate number and kind of shares of
Preferred Stock or other capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right
had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
applicable transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have been
entitled to receive upon such exercise and by virtue of such dividend,
subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which requires
an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), 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).
(ii) If any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and
Associates, shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, become
an Acquiring Person, then each holder of a Right shall (except as
otherwise provided herein, including Section 7(d)) thereafter be
entitled to receive, upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, in lieu of Preferred Stock, such number of duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Voting Common
Stock of the Company (such shares being referred to herein as the
"Adjustment Shares") as shall be equal to the result obtained by
dividing
(x) the product obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to such first occurrence (such product being thereafter referred to
as the "Purchase Price" for each Right) by
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<PAGE>
(y) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i)) per share of Voting Common Stock on the date of
such first occurrence;
provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted pursuant to the
foregoing clause (ii)(x)) and the number of Adjustment Shares so receivable upon
exercise of a Right shall, following the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with
Section 11(f). From and after the occurrence of a Section 13 Event, any Rights
that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii)
shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and not
pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) If the number of shares of Voting Common Stock which are
authorized by the Company's certificate of incorporation but not
outstanding or reserved for issuance other than upon exercise of the
Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights
in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii), the Company shall, with respect
to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment
Shares, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, (A) (to the
extent available) Voting Common Stock and then, (B) (to the extent
available) such number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock as are then equivalent in value to the value of the Adjustment
Shares, and then, if necessary, (C) other equity or debt securities of
the Company, cash or other assets, a reduction in the Purchase Price or
any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value (based upon
the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm) equal to
the value of the Adjustment Shares; provided, however, that (x) the
Company may deliver, and (y) if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision as required above to deliver value within 30 days
following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (the
"Substitution Period"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver,
upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Purchase Price, (1) (to the extent available) Voting
Common Stock and then (2) (to the extent available) one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock and then, if necessary, (3) other equity or
debt securities of the Company, cash or other assets or any combination
of the foregoing, having an aggregate value (based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm) equal to the excess of
the value of the Adjustment Shares over the Purchase Price. To the
extent that the Company determines that some action is to be taken
pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company (X) shall provide,
subject to Section 7(d), that such action shall apply uniformly to all
outstanding Rights and (Y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
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<PAGE>
until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to decide the
appropriate form and value of any consideration to be delivered as
referred to in the preceding sentence. If any such suspension occurs,
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
Voting Common Stock shall be the current market price per share of
Voting Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the
date of the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event; any common
stock equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Voting
Common Stock on such date; and the value of other securities or assets
shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(iii).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after
such record date) Preferred Stock (or securities having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("equivalent
preferred stock")) or securities convertible into or exercisable for Preferred
Stock (or equivalent preferred stock) at a price per share of Preferred Stock
(or equivalent preferred stock) (in each case, taking account of any conversion
or exercise price) less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase
Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying
the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding
on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the
aggregate price (taking account of any conversion or exercise price) of the
total number of shares of Preferred Stock (and/or equivalent preferred stock) so
to be offered would purchase at such current market price and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock (and/or
equivalent preferred stock) so to be offered. In case such subscription price
may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which shall be in a form
other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed
with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. Shares of
Preferred 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 if 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.
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(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation or merger involving the Company) of
evidences of indebtedness, equity securities other than Preferred Stock, assets
(other than a regular periodic cash dividend out of the earnings or retained
earnings of the Company) or rights, options or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per
share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the value (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(iii)) of such evidences of indebtedness, equity
securities, assets, rights, options or warrants so to be distributed with
respect to one share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be
such current market price per share of Preferred Stock. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and if such distribution
is not so made, 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.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) or 14, the "current market
price" per share of Voting Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Voting Common Stock for
the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii), the "current market price" per
share of Voting Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Voting Common Stock for the 10
consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; and for purposes of
computations made pursuant to Section 14, the "current market price" per share
of Voting Common Stock for any Trading Day shall be deemed to be the closing
price per share of Voting Common Stock for such Trading Day; provided, however,
that if the current market price per share of the Voting Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Voting Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Voting Common
Stock payable in shares of such Voting Common Stock or securities exercisable
for or convertible into shares of such Voting Common Stock (other than the
Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Voting
Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the requisite 30 Trading Day or 10
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 take into account ex-dividend trading. The closing
price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no
such sale takes
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<PAGE>
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Voting Common Stock are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal national
securities exchange on which the shares of Voting Common Stock are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the shares of Voting 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
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 Voting 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 Voting Common
Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Voting Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board (or, if at the time of such determination
there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized investment banking
firm) shall be used. If the Voting Common Stock is not publicly held or not so
listed or traded, the "current market price" per share means the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such
determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm, which determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current
market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in the
same manner as set forth above for the Voting Common Stock in Section
11(d)(i) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market
price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in such manner,
the "current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be
conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as such number may be
appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends
and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after
the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price per
share of Voting Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) (other than the last sentence thereof)). If neither the Voting
Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or
traded, the "current market price" per share of the Preferred Stock
shall be determined in the same manner as set forth in the last
sentence of Section 11(d)(i). For all purposes of this Agreement, the
"current market price" of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
Stock shall be equal to the "current market price" of one share of
Preferred Stock divided by 100.
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(iii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the value of
any securities or assets other than Voting Common Stock or Preferred
Stock shall be the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board,
or, if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person,
by a nationally recognized investment banking firm which 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 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 Voting Common Stock or other
share or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be.
(f) If at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a), the holder of any Right shall be entitled to
receive upon exercise of such Right any shares of capital stock other than
Preferred 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 Preferred Stock contained in
Section 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 11(e), 11(g), 11(h), 11(i), 11(j), 11(k) and 11(m),
and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred
Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the Purchase
Price then in effect, the then applicable number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock of the Company issuable from
time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Section 11(b) and 11(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 one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share for which a
Right
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was exercisable 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 one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock for which such 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 Right Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right
Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a
result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be
distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (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 Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or
the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued
may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a share and
the number of shares which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates
issued hereunder.
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(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the par value, if any, of the number of one
one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of
its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue fully paid and nonassessable such number of one one-hundredths of a share
of Preferred 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 number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or other capital
stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the
number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or other capital
stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the
Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the
Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument
evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it, in its sole discretion, shall determine to be advisable in
order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, issuance
wholly for cash of any Preferred Stock at less than the current market price,
issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms
are convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Stock, stock dividends or
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to the holders of its Preferred Stock, shall not
be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it will not at any time after
the Distribution Date (i) consolidate, merge or otherwise combine with or (ii)
sell or otherwise transfer (and/or permit any of its Subsidiaries to 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 other Person or
Persons if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger,
combination or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or
securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements 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,
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combination or sale, the stockholders of a Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the "Principal Party" for the purposes of Section 13 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 Sections 23, 24 and 27, take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will substantially diminish or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if at
any time after the date hereof and prior to the Distribution Date the Company
shall (i) pay a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a
larger number of shares or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter as contemplated
by Section 3(c), shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights
thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event
shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated
with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator
of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately following the occurrence of such event.
SECTION 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the Company
shall (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 Preferred Stock and
the Common Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Right Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to
each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in the manner
set forth in Section 26. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on
any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have
received such certificate.
SECTION 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. (a) If, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
directly or indirectly,
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(x) the Company shall consolidate with, merge into, or otherwise
combine with, any other Person, and the Company shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or
combination,
(y) any Person shall merge into, or otherwise combine with, the
Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger or combination and, in connection with such
merger or combination, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for other stock or securities
of the Company or any other Person, cash or any other property, or
(z) the Company and/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 other Person or Persons,
then, and in each such case, proper provision shall promptly be made so that
(i) each holder of a Right shall thereafter be entitled to receive,
upon exercise thereof at the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of
freely tradeable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter
defined), not subject to any rights of call or first refusal, liens,
encumbrances or other claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by dividing
(A) the product obtained by multiplying the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event by the number of one one-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to such first occurrence (such product being thereafter referred to
as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this
Agreement) by
(B) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)(i)) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal
Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger,
combination, sale or transfer;
provided, however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted pursuant to the
foregoing clause (i)(A)) and the number of shares of Common Stock of such
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Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to
further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) to reflect
any events occurring in respect of the Common Stock of such Principal Party
after the occurrence of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer;
(ii) the Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall
assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, combination, sale or
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; and
(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including the
authorization and reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its
Common Stock to permit exercise of all outstanding Rights in accordance
with this Section 13(a)) 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 the shares of its Common Stock thereafter deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" means
(i) in the case of any transaction described in Section 13(a)(x) or
(y), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares
of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger,
consolidation or combination, and if no securities are so issued, the
Person that survives or results from such merger, consolidation or
combination; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in Section 13(a)(z),
the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the
assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or
transactions;
provided that in any such case, (A) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at
such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been
so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (B) in
case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one
Person, the
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Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the
Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
combination, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which are not outstanding or
otherwise 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
supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in Section 13(a) and
13(b) and providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any
consolidation, merger, combination, sale or transfer mentioned in Section 13(a),
the Principal Party will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the
Rights, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement (A) to become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and (B) to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration
Date; and
(ii) 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) In no event shall the Rights Agent have any liability in respect
of any such Principal Party transactions, including, without limitation, the
propriety thereof. The Rights Agent may rely and be fully protected in relying
upon a certificate of the Company stating that the provisions of this Section 13
have been fulfilled. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
the prior written consent of the Rights Agent must be obtained in connection
with any supplemental agreement which alters the rights or duties of the Rights
Agent.
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(p), or to distribute Right
Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of any such fractional
Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
price of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
price of a whole Right shall be the closing price
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<PAGE>
of a Right for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would otherwise have been issuable. The closing price of a
Right for any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices,
regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, 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. If on any such date no such market maker is making a
market in the Rights, the current market price of the Rights on such date shall
be as determined in good faith by the Board, or, if at the time of such
determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are multiples of one one-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than
fractions which are multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred
Stock). In lieu of any such fractional shares of Preferred Stock, the Company
shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such
Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market price of one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market price of
one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-hundredth of
the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of any Triggering Event or upon any
exchange pursuant to Section 24, the Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Voting Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Voting Common Stock.
In lieu of fractional shares of Voting Common Stock, the Company shall pay to
the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are
exercised or exchanged as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same
fraction of the current market price of a share of Voting Common Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market price of a share of Voting
Common Stock shall
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<PAGE>
be the closing price of a share of Voting Common Stock (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such
exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right 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 Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of
certificates representing Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of any certificate representing
Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any
other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of any certificate
representing 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 Right Certificate in the manner provided in such
Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of the obligations of any Person subject to, this Agreement.
SECTION 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the principal office 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 Sections 6 and 7, the Company and the Rights Agent
may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Right Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, a certificate representing shares of
Common Stock) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the
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Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificate or the certificate representing shares
of Common Stock 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(d), shall 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, that 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. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of capital stock
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented
thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be
construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of
the rights of a 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 25), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been
exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. (a) The Company agrees to pay
to the Rights Agent such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between
the Company and the Rights Agent 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 execution
or administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its
duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and
to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights
Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection
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with the administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its
duties hereunder, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a holder of
Rights, or any other Person) of liability in the premises, including reasonable
attorney's fees and expenses. The provisions of this Section 18(a) shall survive
the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
(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 the administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its
duties hereunder in reliance upon any Right 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,
instruction, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed and executed by the
proper Person or Persons. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited
to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of
the loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.
SECTION 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agents.
(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 all or
substantially all of the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights
Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that
such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent
under the provisions of Section 21. In case at the time such successor Rights
Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the
Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
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(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but
not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior
name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time
any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights
Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.
SECTION 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement, and no implied
duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights
Agent, upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and
the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel of its
selection (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion
of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good
faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (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, suffering or omitting to
take 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 or any Vice President and by the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken, suffered or omitted 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
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; provided, however,
that the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any indirect, special,
consequential or punitive damages.
(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
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Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required
to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall
be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in
respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except
its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any
breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights
becoming void pursuant to Section 7(d)) or any adjustment in the terms
of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided
for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the
existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with
respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after
the Rights Agent's receipt of 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 Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, nor shall the Rights Agent be responsible
for the legality of the terms hereof in its capacity as an
administrative agent.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances
as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out
or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder
from the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President or
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not
be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it
in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or
for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions.
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(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights
or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract
with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely
as though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing
herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other
capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(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 or to any holders of Rights resulting from any such act,
default, neglect or misconduct, provided that reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the
exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification
against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) 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 cases may
be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response
to clause 1 or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further
action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without
first consulting with the Company.
(l) In addition to the foregoing, the Rights Agent shall be
protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of, any
action taken or omitted by it in connection with its administration of
this Agreement if such acts or omissions are in reliance upon (i) the
proper execution of the certification concerning beneficial ownership
appended to the form of assignment and the form of election to purchase
attached hereto unless the Rights Agent shall have actual knowledge
that, as executed, such certification is untrue, or (ii) the
non-execution of such certification including, without limitation, any
refusal to honor any otherwise permissible assignment or election by
reason of such non-execution.
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(m) The Company agrees to give the Rights Agent prompt notice of
any event or ownership which would prohibit the exercise or transfer of
the Right Certificates.
SECTION 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
subsequent to the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or
successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the
Common Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and,
subsequent to the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Right Certificates by
first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to
the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a
period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or
incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall,
with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company),
then the Rights Agent or registered holder of any Right Certificate may, at the
expense of the Company, 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 any state of the United
States, in good standing, having a principal office in the State of New York,
which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or 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 $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a
corporation described in clause 21(a). 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 the Preferred Stock, and, subsequent to
the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
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<PAGE>
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
SECTION 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company
may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form
as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares of stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 23. Redemption. (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time
prior to the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (ii)
the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all 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"). The redemption of the Rights
may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Redemption Price shall be
payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Voting Common Stock,
or such other form of consideration as the Board shall determine.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board electing to redeem the
Rights (or at such later time as the Board may establish for the effectiveness
of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and thereafter the only right of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so
held. The Company shall promptly thereafter give notice of such redemption to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights in the manner set forth in
Section 26; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such
notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the
holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method
by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
SECTION 24. Exchange. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event, the Board may, at its option, exchange all or part of the then
outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 7(d)) for shares of Voting Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Voting Common Stock per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred
to as the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not
be
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<PAGE>
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person together
with all Affiliates and Associates of such Acquiring Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
From and after the occurrence of a Section 13 Event, any Rights that theretofore
have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 24(a) shall thereafter be
exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be exchanged pursuant
to this Section 24(a). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made
effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in
its sole discretion may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board
electing to exchange any Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights will
terminate and thereafter the only right of a holder of such Rights shall be to
receive that number of shares of Voting Common Stock equal to the number of such
Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall
promptly thereafter give notice of such exchange to the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights to be exchanged in the manner set forth in Section 26;
provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall
not affect the validity of such exchange. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the
exchange of the shares of Voting Common Stock for Rights will be effected and,
in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be
exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number
of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section 7(d))
held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute, and, in the event that
there shall not be sufficient shares of Voting Common Stock issued but not
outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exchange of Rights for
Voting Common Stock ordered in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall
substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Voting Common
Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
one-one hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock such that the current market
price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of such number of one-one
hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock is equal to the current market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of one share of Voting Common Stock as of
the date of such exchange.
SECTION 25. Notice of Proposed Actions. (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 Preferred Stock or to make any
other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash
35
<PAGE>
dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer
to the holders of its Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving
only the subdivision or combination of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock),
or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger with any other Person, or to
effect and/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
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, 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
Right and to the Rights Agent, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 26, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record
date for the purposes of any such dividend, distribution or offering of rights
or warrants, or the date on which any 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 Preferred 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 25(a)(i) or 25(a)(ii) above at least 20 days prior to
the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Stock entitled to
participate in such dividend, distribution or offering, and in the case of any
such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of Preferred
Stock, whichever shall be the earlier. The failure to give notice required by
this Section or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of
the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior
to the Distribution Date a public filing by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of
securities of the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement
and no other notice need be given to such holders.
(c) If a Triggering Event shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26, 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) or 13, as the case may
be, and (ii) all references in Section 25(a) to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock or other capital stock, as the case may be.
36
<PAGE>
SECTION 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to
be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail (postage
prepaid) to the address of the Company indicated on the signature page hereof or
such other address as the Company shall specify in writing to the Rights Agent.
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right to or
on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail (postage prepaid) to the address of the Rights Agent indicated on the
signature page hereof or such other address as the Rights Agent shall specify in
writing to the Company. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any
certificate representing shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail (postage prepaid) to the address of such holder
shown on the registry books of the Company.
SECTION 27. Supplements and Amendments. For so long as the Rights are
then redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect
without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of
Common Stock. At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, 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; provided, however,
that no such supplement or amendment may (a) adversely affect the interests of
the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person), (b) cause this Agreement again to become
amendable other than in accordance with this sentence, or (c) cause the Rights
again to become redeemable. 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, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding any other provision
hereof, the Rights Agent's consent must be obtained regarding any amendment or
supplement pursuant to this Section 27 which alters the Rights Agent's rights or
duties.
SECTION 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
SECTION 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board, 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
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<PAGE>
the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of 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) under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date
of this Agreement. The Board 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 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 exchange or not to redeem or exchange
the Rights or to amend the Agreement).
SECTION 30. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and
the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the certificates representing the shares of 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock).
SECTION 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
SECTION 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Right
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to
be made and performed entirely within such State, except that the rights and
obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by the laws of the State of
New York.
SECTION 33. 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 one and
the same instrument.
SECTION 34. Descriptive Headings. The captions herein are included for
convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and
shall be ignored in the construction and interpretation hereof.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Robert E. T. Lackey
------------------------------------
Name: Robert E. T. Lackey
Title: Vice President and Secretary
200 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60604
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Rights Agent
By: /s/ Jeffrey Grosse
------------------------------------
Name: Jeffrey Grosse
Title: Vice President
101 Barclay Street, 12W
New York, New York 10286
Attn: Stock Transfer Administration
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
OF
SERIES A PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE
PREFERRED STOCK
OF
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Pursuant to Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware
We, [ ], [title], and [ ], [title], of Burns International
Services , a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware ("Delaware Law"), in accordance with the provisions
thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by
the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors on
October 26, 1999, adopted the following resolution creating a series of
Preferred Stock in the amount and having the designation, voting powers,
preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights and
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof as follows:
SECTION 1. Designation and Number of Shares. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock" (the
"Series A Preferred Stock"), and the number of shares constituting such series
shall be 750,000. Such number of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided that no
decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a
number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares
issuable upon exercise or conversion of outstanding rights, options or other
securities issued by the Corporation.
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SECTION 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors
out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends
payable on March 10, June 10, September 10 and December 10 of each year
(each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
after the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series
A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 and (ii) subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends or other distributions and 100 times the
aggregate per share amount of all non-cash dividends or other
distributions (other than (A) a dividend payable in shares of Voting
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Voting Common Stock"),
and Series I Non-Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Corporation (together with the Voting Common Stock, the "Common Stock")
or (B) a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise)), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect
to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance
of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. If the
Corporation shall at any time after October 29, 1999 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares
of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise)
into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
2(a)(ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph 2(a) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than as described in clauses 2(a)(ii)(A) and 2(a)(ii)(B)
above); provided that if no dividend or distribution shall have been
declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date (or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, the period
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between the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock and such first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date), a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock
shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is
on or before the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue and
be cumulative from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date
of issue is a date after the record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a
quarterly dividend and on or before such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative
from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends
shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on shares of Series A Preferred
Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on
a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive
payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record
date shall not be more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
SECTION 3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights
required by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have
the following voting rights:
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof
to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the
Corporation. If the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall
be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after such
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<PAGE>
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common
Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to
a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(c) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Preferred Stock
shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends
thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of
a period (herein called a "default period") which shall extend until
such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous
quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend
period on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall
have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each
default period, all holders of Preferred Stock and any other series of
Preferred Stock then entitled as a class to elect directors, voting
together as a single class, irrespective of series, shall have the
right to elect two Directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the
holders of Series A Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a
special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph 3(c)(iii) hereof or
at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual
meetings of stockholders; provided that neither such voting right
nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred
Stock, if any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number
of Directors shall be exercised unless the holders of 10% in number
of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person
or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of holders of Common Stock
shall not affect the exercise by holders of Preferred Stock of such
voting right. At any meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock
shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing
default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to
elect Directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of
Directors as may then exist up to two Directors or, if such right
is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two Directors. If the
number which may be so elected at any special meeting does not
amount to the required number, the holders of the Preferred Stock
shall have the right to make such increase in the number of
Directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of
the required number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall
have exercised their right to elect Directors in any default period
and during the
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<PAGE>
continuance of such period, the number of Directors shall not be
increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred
Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity
securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series A
Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an
existing default period, have previously exercised their right to
elect Directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any
stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than
10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding,
irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special
meeting of holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall
thereupon be called by the President, a Vice President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of any
annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote pursuant to this paragraph 3(c)(iii) shall be given to each
holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such
notice to him at his last address as the same appears on the books
of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not
earlier than 20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or
request or in default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days
after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar
notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate
not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding, irrespective of series. Notwithstanding the provisions
of this paragraph 3(c)(iii), no such special meeting shall be
called during the period within 60 days immediately preceding the
date fixed for the next annual meeting of stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and
other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall
continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of Directors
until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their
right to elect two Directors voting as a class, after the exercise
of which right (x) the Directors so elected by the holders of
Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors
shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of
the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors
may (except as provided in paragraph 3(c)(ii) hereof) be filled by
vote of a majority of the remaining Directors theretofore elected
by the holders of the class of stock which elected the Director
whose office shall have become vacant. References in this paragraph
3(c)
A-5
<PAGE>
to Directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock
shall include Directors elected by such Directors to fill vacancies
as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x)
the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect
Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the
holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the
number of Directors shall be such number as may be provided for in
the certificate of incorporation or bylaws irrespective of any
increase made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3(c)(ii)
hereof (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in
any manner provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation
or bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the
provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be
filled by a majority of the remaining Directors.
(d) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not
be amended in any manner (whether by merger or otherwise) so as to
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
voting separately as a class.
(e) Except as otherwise provided herein, holders of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights, and their consent
shall not be required for taking any corporate action.
SECTION 4. Certain Restrictions.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other
distributions on, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock;
A-6
<PAGE>
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other
distributions on, any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either
as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on
the Series A Preferred Stock and all such other parity stock on
which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled;
(iii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any
shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock; provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in
exchange for shares of stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as
to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to
the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares
of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance
with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of Series A
Preferred Stock and all such other parity stock upon such terms as
the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of
the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith
will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective
series or classes.
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of
stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
4(a), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in
such manner.
SECTION 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock
redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Stock without designation as to series and may be reissued
as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or
resolutions of
A-7
<PAGE>
the Board of Directors as permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or as
otherwise permitted under Delaware Law.
SECTION 6. Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have received $1.00 per share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment; provided that the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share,
subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100
times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common
Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred
Stock and all such other parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. If the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to
such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
SECTION 7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. If the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. If the Corporation
shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise)
into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such
case the amount set forth
A-8
<PAGE>
in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
SECTION 8. No Redemption. The Series A Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable.
SECTION 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior (as to
dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up) to all other series
of the Corporation's preferred stock except any series that specifically
provides that such series shall rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock.
SECTION 10. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued
in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such
holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
A-9
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have executed and subscribed this Certificate
this ____ day of November, 1999.
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
A-10
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE]
No. R- _______________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF NOVEMBER 8, 2009 AND THE DATE ON WHICH THE
RIGHTS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY AS SET FORTH IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED OR
TRANSFERRED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN 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 BE NULL AND VOID.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
This Right Certificate certifies that ______________________, or
registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth
above, each of which entitles the holder (upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of October 29, 1999 and as
amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement") between Burns International
Services Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and The Bank of
New York, a New York banking corporation (the "Rights Agent")) to purchase from
the Company, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration
Date, ____ one-hundredth[s] of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A
Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company at a purchase price of
$55.00 per one one-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), payable in
lawful money of the United States of America, upon surrender of this Right
Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and related certificate duly
executed, and payment of the Purchase Price at an office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose.
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in the Rights Agreement.
B-1
<PAGE>
The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the
number and kind of shares issuable upon exercise of each Right) and the Purchase
Price set forth above are as of ________, ____, and may have been or in the
future be adjusted as a result of the occurrence of certain events, as more
fully provided in the Rights Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights
evidenced by this Right Certificate are beneficially owned by (a) an Acquiring
Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (b) a transferee of
an Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (c) under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of an Acquiring
Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall become
null and void, and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such
Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
the Rights Agreement, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred
or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates evidencing a like
number of Rights as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Board of
Directors the Company may, at its option,
(a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all
but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price
of $.01 per Right; or
(b) at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (but
before such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding), exchange all or part of the
B-2
<PAGE>
then outstanding Rights (other than Rights held by the Acquiring Person
and certain related Persons) for shares of Voting Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Voting Common Stock per Right. If the
Rights shall be exchanged in part, the holder of this Right Certificate
shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exchanged.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be issued upon
the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but
in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights
Agreement. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder
shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of capital stock
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 Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights
Agent.
B-3
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal by its authorized officers.
Dated as of
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
Countersigned: Date of Countersignature:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, -----------------------------------------
as Rights Agent
By:
-----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to
transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
-------------------------------------------------------------
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
---------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ,
--------------------- ----
-----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-5
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate ___are ___are not
being assigned 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 in 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 Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , ----------------------------------------
---------- ---- Signature
--------------
The signatures to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
--------------
B-6
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Right Certificate.)
To: BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase shares of Preferred
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 securities be issued in the name
of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall
be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ,
------------- ----
-----------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
B-7
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right 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 in 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 Right Certificate from
any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: , ----------------------------------------
---------- ---- Signature
--------------
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
--------------
B-8
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED OR TRANSFERRED TO, OR HELD
BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN 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
BE NULL AND VOID.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
-----------------
BURNS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
Summary of Terms
Form of Security The Board has declared a dividend of one preferred
stock purchase right for each outstanding share of
the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Voting Common Stock"), and the
Company's Series I Non-Voting common stock,
par value $0.01 per share (together with the Voting
Common Stock, the "Common Stock"), payable
to holders of record as of the close of business on
November 8, 1999 (each a "Right" and
collectively, the "Rights")
C-1
<PAGE>
Transfer Prior to the Distribution Date1, the Rights
generally will be evidenced by the
certificates for and will be transferred
with the Common Stock, and the registered
holders of the Common Stock will be deemed
to be the registered holders of the Rights.
After the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will mail separate certificates
evidencing the Rights to each record holder
of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, and
thereafter the Rights will be transferable
separately from the Common Stock.
Exercise Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights
will not be exercisable.
After the Distribution Date but, prior to
the occurrence of an event described below
under "Flip-In" or "Flip-Over", each Right
will be exercisable to purchase, for $55.00
(the "Purchase Price"), one one-hundredth
of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
Flip-In Subject to certain exceptions, if any person or
group (an "Acquiring Person") becomes the
beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's
Common Stock, then each Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and
certain affiliated persons) will entitle the holder to
purchase, for the Purchase Price, a number of
shares of the Company's Voting Common Stock
having a market value of twice the Purchase Price.
- -----------
1 Distribution Date generally the earlier of:
(1) the 10th day after public announcement that any person or group
has become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common
Stock; and
(2) the 10th business day after the date of the commencement of a
tender or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated,
result in such person becoming the beneficial owner of 15% or more of
the Company's Common Stock.
C-2
<PAGE>
Flip-Over If, after any person has become an Acquiring
Person, (1) the Company is involved in a merger or
other business combination in which the Company
is not the surviving corporation or its Common
Stock is exchanged for other securities or assets or
(2) the Company and/or one or more of its
subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer assets or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, then each Right will
entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase
Price, a number of shares of common stock of the
other party to such business combination or sale (or
in certain circumstances, an affiliate) having a
market value of twice the Purchase Price.
Exchange At any time after any person has become an
Acquiring Person (but before any person becomes
the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the
Company's Common Stock), the Board may
exchange all or part of the Rights (other than the
Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person
and certain affiliated persons) for shares of Voting
Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share
of Voting Common Stock per Right.
Redemption The Board may redeem all of the Rights at a
price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior
to the time that any person becomes an
Acquiring Person.
Expiration The Rights will expire on November 8, 2009
unless earlier exchanged or redeemed.
Amendments For so long as the Rights are redeemable,
the Rights Agreement may be amended in any
respect.
At any time after the Rights are no longer
redeemable, the Rights Agreement may not be
amended in any respect that would adversely
affect the Rights holders (other than any
Acquiring Person and certain affiliated
persons) or cause the Rights again to
become redeemable.
C-3
<PAGE>
Voting Rights A rights holder has no rights as a
stockholder of the Company, including the
right to vote and to receive dividends.
Antidilution Provisions The Rights Agreement includes
standard antidilution provisions designed
to protect the efficacy of the Rights.
Taxes While the dividend of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the
Company, stockholders or the Company may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize
taxable income in the event that the Rights
become exercisable as set forth above.
--------------
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. 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, as amended from time to time,
the complete terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
--------------
C-4
