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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR (G) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 77-0196707
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(STATE OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1145 EUGENIA PLACE, SUITE 200
CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA 93013
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(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON WHICH
TO BE SO REGISTERED EACH CLASS IS TO BE REGISTERED
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NONE NONE
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
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(TITLE OF CLASS)
TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES _____
EXHIBIT INDEX LOCATED ON PAGE 8
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.
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On April 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of Benton Oil and Gas Company (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (the "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, $.01 par value,
of the Company (the "Common Shares") to shareholders of record as of the close
of business on May 19, 1995 (the "Record Date"). The Board of Directors of the
Company further declared that one Right be distributed with each Common Share
issued after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date (as defined
below) or the earlier expiration, exchange, redemption or termination of the
Rights. Except as set forth below, each Right entitles the registered holder
to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Preferred Shares") at a price of
$50.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth
in a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between the Company and First Interstate Bank of California, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to the Common Shares then outstanding,
and no separate certificates evidencing the rights ("Rights Certificates") will
be issued. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights
Certificates will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the
earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following the first date (the "Shares
Acquisition Date") of a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% of more of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to
such time as any person or group becomes an Acquired Person) following the
commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange
offer for Common Shares of the Company the consummation of which would result
in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons of 15% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such
dates being referred to as the "Distribution Date"). However, a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons who acquires the beneficial ownership
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding either (i) by reason of
share purchases by the Company reducing the number of Common Shares
outstanding (provided such person or group does not acquire additional Common
Shares), or (ii) inadvertently, if such person or group notifies the Board of
Directors of such inadvertent purchase within five business days and within two
business days after such notice divests itself of enough Common Shares so as to
no longer to have the beneficial ownership of 15% of the outstanding Common
Shares, will not be an Acquiring Person.
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any
of the Common Share certificates outstanding on or after the Record Date, by
such Common Share certificates with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached
thereto. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration or
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termination of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the
Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a
notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration or termination
of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common
Shares outstanding on or after the Record Date, even without such notation or a
copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as
of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire at the close of business on April 28, 2005, unless earlier redeemed,
exchanged or terminated as provided below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Shares, certain
convertible securities or securities having the same or more favorable rights,
privileges and preferences to the Preferred Shares at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends out of earnings or retained earnings or
dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to
a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding Common Shares at a price
and on terms determined by at least a majority of the "Continuing Directors"
who are not officers of the Company and are not Acquiring Persons or affiliates
or associates thereof to be both adequate and otherwise in the best interests
of the Company and its shareholders (a "Permitted Offer")), then proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof)
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of Common
Shares of the Company having a market value of two times the exercise price of
the Right. In the event that the Company does not have a sufficient number of
Common Shares available, the Company may, among other things, instead
substitute cash, assets or other securities for the Common Shares into which
the Rights would have otherwise been exercisable. A "Continuing Director" is
any member of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the date of the
Rights Agreement who is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate, associate or
representative of an Acquiring Person, or any person who subsequently becomes a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company upon recommendation or approval
by a majority of the Continuing Directors who is not an Acquiring Person or
affiliate, associate or representative of an Acquiring Person.
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In the event that, after the Shares Acquisition Date, the Company consolidates
or merges with another entity (whether or not the Company is the surviving
corporation) or the Company sells or otherwise transfers 50% or more of its
consolidated assets or earnings power, proper provision will be made so that
each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or affiliates or associates thereof) will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, that number of Common Shares of either the Company, in
the event that the Company is the surviving corporation of a merger or
consolidation, or of the acquiring company (or, in the event there is more than
one acquiring company, the acquiring company receiving the greatest portion of
the assets or earning power transferred), which at the time of such transaction
would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right (unless
the transaction satisfies certain conditions, and is consummated with a person
pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case the Rights will terminate).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such
Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to the earliest to occur of: (i) the tenth day following the
Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the
Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors, at its option, may, at any
time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person but prior to the
acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof)
for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, subject
to adjustment.
The Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable and will be, in ranking as to dividend and liquidation preferences,
senior to the Common Shares but junior to any other series of preferred stock
the Company may issue (unless otherwise provided in the terms of such preferred
stock). Each Preferred Share will have a preferential quarterly dividend in an
amount equal to 100 times the dividend declared on each Common Share but in no
event less than $10.00. In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred
Shares will be entitled to a preferred liquidation payment equal to the greater
of $100.00 or 100 times the payment made per each Common Share. Each Preferred
Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In the
event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares
are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
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receive 100 times the amount and type of consideration received per Common
Share. The rights of the Preferred Shares as to dividends, liquidation and
voting, and in the event of mergers and consolidations, are protected by
customary antidilution provisions. Fractional Preferred Shares will be
issuable; however, the Company may elect to distribute depositary receipts in
lieu of such fractional shares. In lieu of fractional shares (other than
fractions that are multiples of one one-hundredth of a share), an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights at any time to cure
any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent
provisions and may, prior to the Distribution Date, be amended to change or
supplement any other provision in any manner that the Company may deem
necessary or desirable. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights
may be amended (other than to cure ambiguities or to correct or supplement
defective or inconsistent provisions) only so long as the amendment does not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the
Acquiring Person).
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being
acquired. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by the Board of Directors of the Company because the Board
of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to ten days after the Shares
Acquisition Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights
at the Redemption Price.
The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995, between the
Company and the Rights Agent, specifying the terms of the Rights, which is
attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference.
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ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
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1. Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995, between Benton Oil
and Gas Company and First Interstate Bank of California,
including the Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences of
the Series B Preferred Stock, the form of Rights Certificate (and
forms of assignment and election to purchase relating thereto) and
the Summary of Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C,
respectively.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: April 28, 1995
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
By: /S/ A. E. Benton
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A. E. Benton, Chairman of the Board
President and Chief Executive Officer
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<TABLE>
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM 8-A
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NO. EXHIBIT SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- ------- ------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
1 Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995, 9
Benton Oil and Gas Company and First Interstate
Bank of California, including the Certificate of
Designation, Rights and Preferences of Series B
Preferred Stock, the form of Rights Certificate
(and forms of assignment and election relating
thereto) and the Summary of Rights attached
thereto as Exhibits A, B and C, respectively.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 1
==============================================================================
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
AND
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
RIGHTS AGENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF APRIL 28, 1995
==============================================================================
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<TABLE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<S> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights and Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 15. Rights of Action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 23. Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 24. Exchange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 26. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 28. Successors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 31. Severability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Section 32. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 33. Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences
Exhibit B Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C Summary of Rights
</TABLE>
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------------
THIS RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 28, 1995,
is between Benton Oil and Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and First Interstate Bank of California, a California corporation (the "Rights
Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, on April 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company
authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each Common Share (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the
Company outstanding as of the close of business on May 19, 1995 (the "Record
Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a
share of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as
provided herein) having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the
form of Certificate of Designation, Rights and Preferences attached hereto as
Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and
has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to
adjustment as herein provided) with respect to each Common Share that shall
become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution
Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in
certain circumstances after the Distribution Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
-------------------
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall
be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or
more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include the
Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be
deemed to be an Acquiring Person either (i) as the result of an
acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number
of Common Shares of the Company outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of Common Shares owned by such Person to 15% or more of the Common
Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a
Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common
Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the
Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such
Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person, or (ii) if within five
Business Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) after such Person
would otherwise have become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of
this clause (ii)), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such
Person did so and within two Business Days after such
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notification such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as is in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or
successor law or regulation);
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants
or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed
the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are
accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing); provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding
to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given
to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made
pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of
the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the
Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent
contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any
securities of the Company.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of California are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
California time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
(f) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company. "Common Shares" when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock (or voting equity interests, or in certain circumstances, cash, property
or other interests) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if
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such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons
which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
(g) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is
not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person,
or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or
Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement,
or (ii) any Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, while such
Person is a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an
Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's
nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or approved by
a majority of the Continuing Directors.
(h) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association or other
entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such
entity.
(i) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company.
(j) "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such;
provided that, if such person is determined not to have become an Acquiring
Person pursuant to Section 1(a)(ii) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date
Should be deemed to have occurred.
(k) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or which
is otherwise controlled by such Person.
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT.
---------------------------
The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the
Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3
hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common
Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights
Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time
appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.
SECTION 3. ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES.
---------------------------
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition
Date or (ii) the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by
action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of, or first public
announcement by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the
Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any
such plan) of or of the first public announcement of the intention of any
Person (other than the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any
entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant
3
<PAGE> 7
to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in beneficial ownership by a Person of 15%
or more of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company (including any such
date which is on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance
of the Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of Section 3(c) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares
registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also
be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate Rights Certificates,
and (y) the Rights (and the right to receive Rights Certificates) will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agents will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be
sent (and Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, insured,
postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the
records of the Company, a Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common
Share so held. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be
evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company
will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form of Exhibit C
hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each
record holder of Common Shares 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 Shares outstanding as of the Record Date,
until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration, exchange or
termination of the Rights), the Rights shall be evidenced by such certificates
for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof together with
a copy of the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption, expiration, exchange or termination of the Rights), the surrender
for transfer of any certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record
Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including
without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence
of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date shall have impressed, printed,
written, stamped or otherwise affixed on to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between
Benton Oil and Gas Company and First Interstate Bank of
California, dated April 28, 1995 (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 Benton Oil and Gas Company. Under certain circumstances,
as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be
evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be
evidenced by this certificate. Benton Oil and Gas Company
will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the
Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written
request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth
in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to or held by any
Person who becomes an
4
<PAGE> 8
Acquiring Person or any Affiliates or Associates thereof (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) may become
null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, expiration, exchange or termination
of the Rights), the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall
not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which
are no longer outstanding.
SECTION 4. FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
---------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of Election to Purchase and
of Assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall 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 or with
any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of
any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11 and Section 22
hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the
Record Date (or, in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares
issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such
Common Shares), and, on their face, shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set
forth therein at the price per one one- hundredth of a Preferred Share set
forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number and type of securities
purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section
22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person
or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes such a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has a primary
purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate
issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange,
replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this
sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly,
this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may
5
<PAGE> 9
become null and void under the circumstances specified in
Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) hereof shall be operative whether or not the
foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificate.
SECTION 5. COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION.
---------------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its
President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and
by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or
by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a
facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the
Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid
for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the Person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such 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 office designated for such purpose, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the
Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the
Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.
SECTION 6. TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF
-----------------------------------------------
RIGHTS CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR
--------------------------------------------------
STOLEN RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
--------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof,
at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered
holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such
holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate shall make such request in writing
delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the
office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights
Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with
respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the
registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in
the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall
have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner
(or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled
thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
6
<PAGE> 10
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment by holders of Rights of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation
of a Rights Certificate and such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliate or Associate thereof
as the Company shall reasonably request, 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 Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall
execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent
for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Right
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
SECTION 7. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE
---------------------------------------------------
OF RIGHTS AND EXTENSION.
-----------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the
Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of
Election to Purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together
with payment of the Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share (or such other number of shares or other securities or property) as to
which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of
business on April 28, 2005 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the date on
which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption
Date"), (iii) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d)
hereof or (iv) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in
Section 24 hereof (such earliest time being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $50.00, shall be subject
to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and
shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance
with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of Election to Purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of
the Purchase Price for the shares (or other securities or property) to be
purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be
paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9
hereof in cash, or by certified check or cashier's check payable to the order
of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof,
thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred
Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be
purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to
comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company, in its sole discretion,
shall have elected to deposit the total number of one one- hundredths of a
Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereto with a depositing
agent, requisition from the depository agent depository receipts representing
such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased
(in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such
receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depository agent),
and the Company hereby directs the depository agent to comply with such
request, (ii) when appropriate,
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<PAGE> 11
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 hereof, (iii)
promptly after receipt of such certificates or depository receipts, cause the
same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by
such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such
cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the
Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a)
hereof, the Company shall make all arrangements necessary so that such other
securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the
Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise
less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing
Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the
Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly
authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if there
occurs any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a)
hereof, then any Rights that are or were on or after the Distribution Date
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any
Acquiring Person shall become null and void, without any further action, and
any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with
respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or
otherwise.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with
respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as
set forth in this Section 7 hereof unless the certificate contained in the
appropriate form of Election to Purchase set forth on the reverse side of the
Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise shall have been properly
completed and duly executed by the registered holder thereof and the Company
shall have been provided with 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 AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
---------------------------------------------------
All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the
Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for
cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent,
shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu
thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Rights
Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and
retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights
Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the
exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights
Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a
certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
8
<PAGE> 12
SECTION 9. RESERVATION AND AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES.
------------------------------------------------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred
Shares, or any authorized and issued Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the
number of Preferred Shares and, after the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 11 and 13 hereof, shall so reserve and keep available a sufficient
number of Common Shares (and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to
permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) If the Company shall hereafter list the Preferred Shares on a
national securities exchange or on Nasdaq (as hereinafter defined), then so
long as the Preferred Shares (and, after the occurrence of an event specified
in Section 11 and 13 hereof, any other securities) issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or Nasdaq, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares (or other securities) reserved for such
issuance to be listed on such exchange or Nasdaq upon official notice of
issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares and/or other
securities delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificates for such Preferred Shares or other securities (subject to
payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and nonassessable.
(d) The Company further covenants and agrees that it shall pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The
Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a
person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depository
receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of, the registered
holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or
to issue or deliver any certificates for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of
any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable
by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it
has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
(e) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, if
required by law, as soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder) until the Expiration Date (unless and until the Company shall have
received an opinion of counsel to the effect that the maintenance of such
registration statement in effect is no longer necessary). The Company shall
also take such action as may be appropriate under the securities or "blue sky"
laws of the various states in connection with the exercise of the Rights.
SECTION 10. PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE.
----------------------------
Each Person in whose name any certificate for Preferred Shares (or
other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or other
securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date
9
<PAGE> 13
upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date
upon which the Preferred Shares (or other securities) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record
holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or other securities)
transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate, as such, shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights
shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, 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.
SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR
-------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF RIGHTS.
----------------
The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable
in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred
Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of
the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and in Section
7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for
such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable
on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and
kind of shares of capital stock and other securities which, if such Right had
been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred
Shares transfer books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon such
exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and
shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(ii) Subject to the provisions of Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, becomes
an Acquiring Person (except pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares at a price and on the terms determined prior to the
date of the first acceptance of payment for any of such shares by at least a
majority of the Continuing Directors who are not officers of the Company to be
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders (other than the
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof on whose behalf the offer is being
made) (a "Permitted Offer")), then, promptly thereafter, proper provision shall
be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e)
hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied
by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of
Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal
the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
then number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable, and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the then current per
share market price of the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant to
10
<PAGE> 14
Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of such event (such number
of shares being referred to as the "number of Adjustment Shares"); provided,
however, that if the transaction that would otherwise give rise to the
foregoing adjustment is also subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof,
then only the provisions of Section 13 hereof shall apply and no adjustment
shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if a majority of the Continuing Directors
determine that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the
interests of holders of Rights, elect to (and, in the event that the Company
has not exercised the exchange right set forth in Section 24 hereof and there
are not sufficient treasury shares and authorized but unissued Common Shares to
permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii), the Company shall) take all such action as may be necessary
to authorize, issue or pay, upon the exercise of the Rights, cash (including by
way of a reduction of the Purchase Price), property, Common Shares, other
securities or any combination thereof having an aggregate value equal to the
value of the Common Shares which otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii), which aggregate value shall be determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by a majority of the Continuing
Directors. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the value of the Common
Shares shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof and the value of
any Preferred Shares or other preferred stock which a majority of the
Continuing Directors determines to be a "common shares equivalent" shall be
deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares. Any such election by the
Continuing Directors must be made and publicly announced within 60 days
following the date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall have occurred. Following the occurrence of the event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, a majority of the Continuing Directors may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to 60 days following the
date on which the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall have
occurred to the extent that the Board of Directors has not determined whether
to exercise its rights of election under this Section 11(a)(iii). In the event
of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating
that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a
period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe
for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same or more favorable
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or per equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section
11(d) hereof) 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 record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date
plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the
total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be
offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible
securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and
the denominator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on
such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or
equivalent preferred shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).
In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of
which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such
11
<PAGE> 15
consideration shall be as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board
of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes
and binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights. Preferred Shares
and equivalent preferred shares owned by or held for the account of the Company
shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if
such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash
(other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or the
retained earnings of the Company) or assets (other than a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined
in Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding upon the
Rights Agent and the holders of Rights) of the portion of the cash, assets or
evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights
or warrants distributable in respect of one Preferred Share and the denominator
of which shall be the current per share market price of the Preferred Shares
(as defined in Section 11(d) hereof). Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again 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) hereof, the "current per share
market price" of the Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Shares for the 30
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately
prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per
share market price of the Common Shares is determined during a period following
the announcement by the issuer of such Common Shares of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Common Shares payable in such Common Shares or securities
convertible into such Common Shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Shares, and prior to the expiration of 30
Trading Days 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 per share market price shall be
appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per Common Share
equivalent. The closing price for each 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 Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if
the Common Shares 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
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<PAGE> 16
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock
Market ("Nasdaq") or such other quotation system then in use, or, if on any
such date the Common Shares are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Common Shares selected by the Board of
Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a
market in the Common Shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined reasonably and in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company shall be used and shall be conclusive for all purposes binding on the
Rights Agent and the holders of Rights. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a
day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Common
Shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in the same
manner as set forth above for Common Shares in clause (i) of this Section
11(d). If the current per share market price of the Preferred Shares cannot be
determined in the manner provided above, the "current per share market price"
of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per
share market price of the Common Shares (appropriately adjusted to reflect any
stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof), multiplied by one hundred.
(iii) If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are
publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall
mean the fair value per share as determined reasonably and in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes
and binding upon the Rights Agent and the holders of Rights.
(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% of 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 Common Share or other share
or one-millionth of a Preferred Share as the case may be. Notwithstanding the
first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section
11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of
the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) or
13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become
entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than
Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a
manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with
respect to the shares contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (h), (i), (j)
(k), (l) and (n) hereof, inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13
and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to
any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all
subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
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<PAGE> 17
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as
a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price per one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, that number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a Preferred Share)
obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase
Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any
adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a
Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.
Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights
shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one millionth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company,
shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date
of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new
Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall
be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and
may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall
be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on
the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of
Preferred Shares which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued
hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take
any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in
order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
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<PAGE> 18
(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 issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
of the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company,
if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and
other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares 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 Shares, issuance
wholly for cash of any of Preferred Shares at less than the current per share
market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares,
dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or issuance of
rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in subsection (b) of this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares
shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the
event that at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Distribution Date, the Company shall (A) declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide, combine or consolidate
the outstanding Common Shares into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares
or (C) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
outstanding Common Shares, then, in any such case, except as otherwise provided
in this Section 11 and Section 7(c) hereof, (i) the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event upon proper
exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to such
event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each
Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or
consolidation is effected.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it
will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit
to be taken) any action if at such time such action is taken it is reasonably
foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
SECTION 12. CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF
---------------------------------------------------
SHARES.
------
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Common Shares and the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail
a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance
with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the
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<PAGE> 19
foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certificate or give
such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or
effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully
protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained
therein 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) In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly
or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into,
any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction the
principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the
Company), (y) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and
into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such merger, or (z) the Company shall sell, mortgage or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or
otherwise transfer), in one or more 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, then, and in each such
case, proper provision shall be made so that (i) following the Distribution
Date, each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such
number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common
Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined) as shall be equal to the
result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable (without taking into account any adjustment previously made
pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) and (B) dividing that product by 50% of
the current per share market price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of consummation of
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed
to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply to such Principal Party; and (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with
Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (x) or (y) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the issuer of
any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in such
merger or consolidation, and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is
the other party to the merger or consolidation (including, if applicable, the
Company, if it is the surviving corporation); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof, the Person that is the party receiving
the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions;
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<PAGE> 20
Provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of such
Person are not at such time and have 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 Affiliate of another Person,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in cash such Person is
a subsidiary, directly or indirectly, or Affiliate of more than one person, the
Common Shares 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
Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in cash such
Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed by two or
more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the same Person,
the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of the chains of
ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such party were a
"Subsidiary" of both of all of such venturers and the Principal Parties in each
such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in this Section 13 in the same
ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such Person bear the total of
such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
its authorized Common Shares that have not been issued or reserved for issuance
to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13
and unless prior thereto the Company and each Principal Party and each other
Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent
a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a)
and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable
after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own
expense shall:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, will use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such
filing and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) use its best efforts to qualify or register the Rights and the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the securities or
"blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;
(iii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national
securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on
Nasdaq; and
(iv) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party and each of the affiliates which comply in all material
respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange
Act.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section
13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (x) and (y) of
Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share
offered in
17
<PAGE> 21
such transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to all
holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted
Offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining
holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form
of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon consummation of
any such transaction contemplated by this subsection (c), all Rights hereunder
shall expire.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. The Rights
under this Section 13 shall be in addition to the rights to exercise Rights and
adjustments under Section 11(a)(ii) and shall survive any exercise thereunder.
(f) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind
referred to in clauses (x), (y) and (z) of Section 13(a) hereof if at the time
of such transaction there are any rights, warrants, instruments or securities
outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the
consummation of such transaction, would substantially diminish or otherwise
eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The Company
shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and
such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a
supplemental agreement so providing.
SECTION 14. FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES.
---------------------------------------
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of
such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise
be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable, which closing price shall be determined in the
same manner as set forth for Common Shares in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one- hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts,
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depository
selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of
such depository receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences
to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Shares. In
lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Company may pay to the registered
holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein
provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this Section
14(b), the current market value of one-hundredth of a Preferred Share shall be
one one-hundredth of the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
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<PAGE> 22
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares (other than, in the case of fractional Preferred Shares, fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise
of a Right.
SECTION 15. RIGHTS OF ACTION.
----------------
All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the
rights of actions given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested
in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any
registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the
holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of
the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce,
and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the
Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the
Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or
any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at
law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific
performance 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 RIGHTS HOLDERS.
---------------------------
Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees
with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right
that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office
of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights
Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights
Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
SECTION 17. RIGHTS CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER.
--------------------------------------------------
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares, Common Shares or any other securities of the Company which
may at any time be issuable upon exercise of the Rights represented thereby,
nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed
to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights
of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of
directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof,
or to give or
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<PAGE> 23
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or
other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof),
or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right
or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
SECTION 18. CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT.
---------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done
or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any
Rights Certificate or certificate for Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for
other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
instruction, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it
to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of
its counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
SECTION 19. MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS
---------------------------------------------------
AGENT.
-----
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate trust or stockholder services 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 action on
the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall
succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates
shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights
Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed
and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned
but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its
prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign
20
<PAGE> 24
such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and
in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided
in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
SECTION 20. DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT.
----------------------
The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this
Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company
and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the 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 the "current per share market price") be proved or established
by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or
matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a
certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other
Person only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature 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 Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor
shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or
condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall
it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights 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 hereof, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights
Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished
pursuant to Section 13 hereof describing any such change or adjustment); nor
shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty
as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares or other
securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or
as to whether any Preferred Shares or other securities will, when issued, be
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and
21
<PAGE> 25
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 written
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and
is authorized to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or
suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any
such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions
from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing
any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to
its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after
which such action shall be taken and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such
application on or after the date specified therein (which date shall be not
less than five Business Days after the date any such officer actually receives
such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action, the Rights
Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities
of the Company or become peculiarly interested in any transaction in which the
Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or
otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this
Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any
other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable
or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct, provided 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 Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights
Agent for exercise or transfer, the Certificate attached to the form of
Assignment of form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
SECTION 21. CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT.
----------------------
The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing
mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and
Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the
22
<PAGE> 26
Rights 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, to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent
or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit
his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction or the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of the State of California or of the State of New York (or of any other state
of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business
as a banking institution in the State of California or the State of New York),
in good standing, having a principal office in the State of California or the
State of New York, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust or stockholder services 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 denoted in clause (a) of this
sentence. 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 Shares and Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.
SECTION 22. ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHTS CERTIFICATES.
-----------------------------------
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the
Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of
Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price per share
and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale by the Company of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior
to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall with
respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, which plan or arrangement is
existing as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of any other securities issued by the Company prior to the
Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
and sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, in its good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall have determined that the issuance of such Rights
Certificate would create significant risk of material adverse tax consequences
to the Company or to the Person to whom or which such Rights Certificate
otherwise would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights
23
<PAGE> 27
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
otherwise shall have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
SECTION 23. REDEMPTION.
----------
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day following
the Shares Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but
not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price
being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price") and the Company may,
at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the
current per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) at the time of redemption) or cash; provided, however, if the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights on or after the
time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then there must be Continuing
Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the concurrence of
a majority of such Continuing Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed
with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice,
the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter
of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Within ten
days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the
Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent
and to the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to the
Rights Agent and to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date,
on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. 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. Neither
the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or
purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other
than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution
Date.
SECTION 24. EXCHANGE.
--------
(a) Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Board of Directors of
the Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable
Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for (A) Common Shares at an exchange ratio
of one Common Share 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 of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of
any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section
24, and without any further action and
24
<PAGE> 28
without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the
only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that
number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public
notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or
any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange to
all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agency. 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 Common Shares 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 the provisions of Section
7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued
but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights
as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all
such actions as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for
issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after
good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for each
Common Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a
number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share
market price of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is
equal to the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date
of issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu
of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
SECTION 25. NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS.
------------------------
In case the Company shall propose (a) to pay any dividend payable in
stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other
distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company),
(b) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to
subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock
of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (c) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (d) to effect
any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale or other
transfer (or to permit one or more of its subsidiaries to effect any sale or
other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any
other Person, or (e) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of
a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such
proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such
stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which
such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding
25
<PAGE> 29
up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and
such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (a)
or (b) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders
of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any
such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) of
this Agreement shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company or the
Principal Party, as the case may be, shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event
and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii)
or Section 13(a) hereof, as the case may be.
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 Rights Certificate to or on the
Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Rights Agent) as follows:
Benton Oil and Gas Company
1145 Eugenia Place
Suite 200
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Attention: President
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
First Interstate Bank of California
707 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90017
Attention: Stock Transfer Administrator
Mailsort W11-2
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
SECTION 27. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS.
--------------------------
The Company may, by resolution adopted by its Board of Directors, from
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Right or Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity,
(ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) prior to the
Distribution Date, to change or supplement any provision hereunder in any
manner which the Company may deem necessary
26
<PAGE> 30
or desirable, or (iv) on or after the Distribution Date, to change or
supplement any provision hereunder which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or as Associate of an
Acquiring Person). 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 27, the Rights Agent shall, if
the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment unless the Rights
Agent shall have determined in good faith that such supplement or amendment
would adversely affect its interests under this Agreement. Prior to the
Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
consistent with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.
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 OF DIRECTORS.
----------------------------------------------------
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of
which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the
last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) under the Exchange Act. The Board of
Directors of the Company (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Continuing Directors) shall have the exclusive power and
authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) or to the Company, or as
may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the
provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement).
All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including,
for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing)
which are done or made by the Board (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x)
be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders
of Rights Certificates and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board or
the Continuing Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
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
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares)
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior
to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
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 in any respect, the remainder of the
27
<PAGE> 31
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;
it is hereby agreed that such provisions are severable and that this Agreement
or the Rights shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid, void or
unenforceable provisions were omitted.
SECTION 32. GOVERNING LAW.
-------------
This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be
deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for
all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within
such State.
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 but one and the same
instrument.
SECTION 34. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.
--------------------
Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any of the provisions hereof.
* * * * *
28
<PAGE> 32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
Attest:
By: /s/ Toni L. Jackson By: /s/ A. E. Benton
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Secretary Title: Chairman of the Board, President
--------------------------- ---------------------------
and Chief Executive Officer
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
Attest:
By: /s/ Ronald Lug By: /s/ Neil Rosso
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Vice President Title: Assistant Vice President
--------------------------- ---------------------------
29
<PAGE> 33
EXHIBIT A
---------
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF THE
SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK
OF
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
<PAGE> 34
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION,
RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES
OF THE
SERIES B PREFERRED STOCK
OF
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
==================================================================
PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE
GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
==================================================================
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), does
hereby certify that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation by Article 4 of the Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, of the Corporation and in accordance with the provisions of Section
151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, its Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly called and held on April 28, 1995, adopted the
following resolution creating a series of authorized but unissued Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value, designated as Series B Preferred Stock:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board
of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation and hereby fixes the designation and the
amount thereof and the powers, preferences and relative participating, optional
or other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, as follows:
1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be designated
as "Series B Preferred Stock," par value $.01 per share, and the number of
shares constituting such series shall be 500,000. Such number of shares may be
increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then outstanding plus
the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options or
warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation.
2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
----------------------------
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the
shares of Series B Preferred
<PAGE> 35
Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred
Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds
legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the
first day of March, June, September and December in 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 a share
or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate
per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions,
other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or 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 B Preferred Stock.
In the event the Corporation shall at any time after May 19, 1995 (the "Rights
Declaration Date") (i) declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise) 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 B Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the
preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
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 B Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common
Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the
next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10.00 per share
on the Series B 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 B Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock,
unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date
of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record
date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock
entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue
and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
-2-
<PAGE> 36
Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the
shares of Series B 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 B Preferred Stock entitled to
receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record
date shall be not more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment
thereof.
3. VOTING RIGHTS. The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall
have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
share of Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes
on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date
declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) 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 B Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) Except as otherwise set forth herein or as required by law, the
holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a
vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as otherwise set forth herein or as required by law, the
holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with the holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporation action.
4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.
---------------------
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series B 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 shares of Series B Preferred Stock
outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or
redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock;
-3-
<PAGE> 37
(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 B Preferred Stock,
except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the
total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares
of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, provided that the
Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any
such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
shares of Series B Preferred Stock or any shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) with
the Series B 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 such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series
or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section
4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired
and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall
upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be
created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP.
---------------------------------------
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding
up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares
of Common Stock or of other stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock
unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall
have received, per share, the greater of $100.00 or 100 times (subject to
adjustment as hereinafter set forth) the aggregate amount to be distributed per
share of Common Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment
(the "Series B Liquidation
-4-
<PAGE> 38
Preference").
(B) In the event that upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise),
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, there are not sufficient assets
remaining to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity stock in proportion
to the amount to which the holders of all such shares are entitled to receive
upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights
Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification
or otherwise, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of
Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event,
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares
of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities,
cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series B
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an
amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash
and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or
for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date declare or pay
any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
8. REDEMPTION. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall not be
redeemable.
9. RANKING. The Series B Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other
series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and
the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide
otherwise.
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<PAGE> 39
10. FRACTIONAL SHARES. Series B Preferred Stock may be issued in
fractions (including, but not limited to, one hundredths) 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 B Preferred Stock.
11. AMENDMENT. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the
Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner which would materially
alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B
Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred
Stock, voting separately as a class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Benton Oil and Gas Company has caused this Certificate
of Designation, Rights and Preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock to be
duly signed by its President and attested to by its Secretary and has caused
its corporate seal to be affixed hereto this 28th day of April, 1995.
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
By:________________________________
A. E. Benton, Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Attest:
____________________________
Toni L. Jackson, Secretary
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<PAGE> 40
EXHIBIT B
---------
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-____________ ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 28, 2005 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION IS
GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY,
AT $.01 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. [THE
RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR AN
ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED
HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(E) OF
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](1)
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
This certifies that _________________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of
the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Benton Oil and Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
First Interstate Bank of California (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the
Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) and prior the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the
Rights Agreement) at the office of the Rights Agent, or its successors as
Rights Agent, designated for such purpose, one one-hundredth of a fully-paid
non-assessable share of Series B Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company (or other securities or property, as
provided in the Rights Agreement), at a purchase price of $50.00 per one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the appropriate Form of Election
to Purchase and Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate (and the number of Preferred Shares which may be
purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of the close of business on
April 28, 1995, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.
____________________
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable.
B-1
<PAGE> 41
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of
Preferred Shares (or other securities or property which may be purchased upon
the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate) are subject to
modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies
of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and are also available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate
number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be
entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this Certificate may, but are not required to, be redeemed by the Company at a
redemption price of $.01 per Right.
No fractional Preferred Shares will 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 Preferred Share, 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.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors
or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give
or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
B-2
<PAGE> 42
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and
its corporate seal.
Dated:_________________________
ATTEST: BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
______________________________ By:_____________________________
Title:_________________________ Title:____________________________
Countersigned:
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
as Rights Agent
By:___________________________
Authorized Signatory
B-3
<PAGE> 43
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificates.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_____________________________ Attorney to transfer the within Rights
Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of
substitution.
Dated:_______________________________
_____________________________________ _______________________________
Signature Signature
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
____________________________________
B-4
<PAGE> 44
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:______________________________
_____________________________________
Signature
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Assignment must correspond to the name as
written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-5
<PAGE> 45
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
(or such other securities of the Company) issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights and requests that certificate for such Preferred Shares (or other
securities of the Company) be issued in the name of:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please insert social security or other identifying number)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please insert social security or other identifying number)
Dated:______________________________
____________________________________ _______________________________
Signature Signature
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
____________________________________
B-6
<PAGE> 46
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated:______________________________
_____________________________________
Signature
NOTICE
------
The signature to the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase must correspond
to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every
particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
In the event the Certificate set forth above in the Forms of Assignment and
Election to Purchase is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial
owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to
that effect on any Rights Certificates issued in exchange for his Rights
Certificate.
B-7
<PAGE> 47
EXHIBIT C
---------
BENTON OIL AND GAS COMPANY
SUMMARY OF PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
On April 28, 1995, the Board of Directors of Benton Oil and Gas Company (the
"Company") declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase
right (the "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, $.01 par value,
of the Company (the "Common Shares") to shareholders of record as of the close
of business on May 19, 1995 (the "Record Date"). The Board of Directors of the
Company further declared that one Right be distributed with each Common Share
issued after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date (as defined
below) or the earlier expiration, exchange, redemption or termination of the
Rights. Except as set forth below, each Right entitles the registered holder
to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Preferred Shares") at a price of
$50.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"),
subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth
in a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 28, 1995 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between the Company and First Interstate Bank of California, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to the Common Shares then outstanding,
and no separate certificates evidencing the rights ("Rights Certificates") will
be issued. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights
Certificates will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the
earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following the first date (the "Shares
Acquisition Date") of a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or
obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% of more of the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to
such time as any person or group becomes an Acquired Person) following the
commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange
offer for Common Shares of the Company the consummation of which would result
in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons of 15% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such
dates being referred to as the "Distribution Date"). However, a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons who acquires the beneficial ownership
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding either (i) by reason of
share purchases by the Company reducing the number of Common Shares
outstanding (provided such person or group does not acquire additional Common
Shares), or (ii) inadvertently, if such person or group notifies the Board of
Directors of such inadvertent purchase within five business days and within two
business days after such notice divests itself of enough Common Shares so as to
no longer to have the beneficial ownership of 15% of the outstanding Common
Shares, will not be an Acquiring Person.
Until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any
of the
<PAGE> 48
Common Share certificates outstanding on or after the Record Date, by such
Common Share certificates with a copy of this Summary of Rights attached
thereto. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration or termination
of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon
transfer or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation
incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date
(or earlier redemption, exchange, expiration or termination of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding on or
after the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of
Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights Certificates will
be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date, and such separate Rights Certificates alone will
evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire at the close of business on April 28, 2005, unless earlier redeemed,
exchanged or terminated as provided below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Shares, certain
convertible securities or securities having the same or more favorable rights,
privileges and preferences to the Preferred Shares at less than the current
market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends out of earnings or retained earnings or
dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant
to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding Common Shares at a
price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the "Continuing
Directors" who are not officers of the Company and are not Acquiring Persons or
affiliates or associates thereof to be both adequate and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders (a "Permitted Offer")), then
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof)
will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that number of Common
Shares of the Company having a market value of two times the exercise price of
the Right. In the event that the Company does not have a sufficient number of
Common Shares available, the Company may, among other things, instead
substitute cash, assets or other securities for the Common Shares into which
the Rights would have otherwise been exercisable. A "Continuing Director" is
any member of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the date of the
Rights Agreement who is not an Acquiring Person or an affiliate, associate or
representative of an Acquiring Person, or any person who subsequently
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<PAGE> 49
becomes a member of the Board of Directors of the Company upon recommendation
or approval by a majority of the Continuing Directors who is not an Acquiring
Person or affiliate, associate or representative of an Acquiring Person.
In the event that, after the Shares Acquisition Date, the Company
consolidates or merges with another entity (whether or not the Company is the
surviving corporation) or the Company sells or otherwise transfers 50% or more
of its consolidated assets or earnings power, proper provision will be made so
that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an
Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof) will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, that number of Common Shares of either the
Company, in the event that the Company is the surviving corporation of a merger
or consolidation, or of the acquiring company (or, in the event there is more
than one acquiring company, the acquiring company receiving the greatest
portion of the assets or earning power transferred), which at the time of such
transaction would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right (unless the transaction satisfies certain conditions, and is consummated
with a person pursuant to a Permitted Offer, in which case the Rights will
terminate).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such
Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to the earliest to occur of: (i) the tenth day following
the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company may redeem
the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the
"Redemption Price"). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
Subject to applicable law, the Board of Directors, at its option, may, at any
time after a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person but prior to the
acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or affiliates or associates thereof)
for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, subject
to adjustment.
The Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable and will be, in ranking as to dividend and liquidation preferences,
senior to the Common Shares but junior to any other series of preferred stock
the Company may issue (unless otherwise provided in the terms of such preferred
stock). Each Preferred Share will have a preferential quarterly dividend in an
amount equal to 100 times the dividend declared on each Common Share but in no
event less than $10.00. In the event of liquidation, the holders of Preferred
Shares will be
C-3
<PAGE> 50
entitled to a preferred liquidation payment equal to the greater of $100.00 or
100 times the payment made per each Common Share. Each Preferred Share will
have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. In the event of any
merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are
exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times the
amount and type of consideration received per Common Share. The rights of the
Preferred Shares as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of
mergers and consolidations, are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Fractional Preferred Shares will be issuable; however, the Company may elect to
distribute depositary receipts in lieu of such fractional shares. In lieu of
fractional shares (other than fractions that are multiples of one one-
hundredth of a share), an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights at any time to cure
any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent
provisions and may, prior to the Distribution Date, be amended to change or
supplement any other provision in any manner that the Company may deem
necessary or desirable. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights
may be amended (other than to cure ambiguities or to correct or supplement
defective or inconsistent provisions) only so long as the amendment does not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the
Acquiring Person).
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being
acquired. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by the Board of Directors of the Company because the Board
of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to ten days after the Shares
Acquisition Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights
at the Redemption Price.
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, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
C-4
