<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) JUNE 1, 1998
------------
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
DELAWARE 000-22366 94-2878499
- ------------------------------ ----------- ------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
215 FOURIER AVENUE, FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94539
- --------------------------------------- -----
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (510) 657-7400
--------------
NONE
----
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE>
Item 5. Other Events.
------------
On June 1, 1998, the Board of Directors of Credence Systems
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), authorized the declaration
of a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company. The dividend is payable on June 22, 1998 (the "Record
Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles the
registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share (a
"Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), of the Company at a price of $165.00 per
Unit (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are to be set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) the close of business on the first
date of a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Stock 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 becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group of 15% or more of such outstanding Common Stock (the earlier of such dates
being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with
respect to any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Stock certificate 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 Stock. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock, outstanding as of 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 Stock represented by such
certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock 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 June 1, 2008, unless the Final
Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Series A
Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in
the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Units of Series A Preferred Stock of certain rights or war rants
to subscribe for or purchase Units of Series A Preferred Stock at a price, or
securities convertible into Units of Series A Preferred Stock with a conversion
price, less than the then current market price of the Units of Series A
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Units of Series
A Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends
payable in Units of Series A Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Units of Series A
Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of each Rights are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend
on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or
combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.
2.
<PAGE>
Units of Series A Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights will not be redeemable. Each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be
entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per share
of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Units of
Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1,000 times
the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each Unit of Series A Preferred
Stock will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of
Common Stock are exchanged, each Unit of Series A Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights,
the value of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Units of Series A Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of each Rights should approximate the value of one
share of Common Stock.
In the event that, after the Rights become exercisable, the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction with an Acquiring
Person or an affiliate thereof, or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold to an Acquiring Person or an affiliate thereof, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Rights will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of
the Rights, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which
at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Rights.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more (or such greater percentage
amount as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater percentage
limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or group's
percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right,
other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of shares of Common Stock or Units of Series A Preferred Stock (or
cash, other securities or property) having a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Rights.
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or such greater
percentage amount as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater
percentage limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or
group's percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of
50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the
Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group
which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Unit
of Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment) which shall equal, subject
to adjustment to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions
occurring after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price by the then current per share market price per Unit of Series A Preferred
Stock on the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person and (ii) the date on which a tender or exchange offer is announced by any
Person, if upon consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner
of 15% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding.
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 shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be
issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, 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 Units of Series
A Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time on or prior to the close of business on the first date of
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or such greater percentage amount
as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater percentage limit
to be
3.
<PAGE>
permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or group's percentage ownership
may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding Common Stock (unless the
Board of Directors extends such ten-day period), the Board of Directors of the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001
per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the rights may be made
effective at such time on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of
Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any 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. The
Rights are also redeemable under other circumstances as specified in the Rights
Agreement.
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, except that from
and after a Distribution Date no such amendment may adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an
offer conditioned 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 since the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the
Redemption Price prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date.
A form of the Rights Agreement to be entered into between the Company
and the Rights Agent, specifying the terms of the Rights, is attached hereto as
an exhibit and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description
of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. The
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
is attached hereto as an exhibit. The foregoing description of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such exhibit.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
---------------------------------
Exhibit 4 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, between the
Company and BankBoston, N.A., which includes the form of
Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights
Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase
Series A Preferred Shares as Exhibit C. Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, printed Right Certificates will not be mailed until
as soon as practicable after the earlier of (i) the close of
business on the first date of a public announcement that a
person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock or (ii) the tenth (10th)
business day (or such later date as may be determined by action
of the Board of Directors) after a person commences, or
announces its intention to commence, a tender offer or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock.
Exhibit 21 Press Release dated June 1, 1998 regarding the Rights Agreement.
4.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
DATE: June 1, 1998 By: /s/ Wilmer R. Bottoms
------------------------------------
Name: Wilmer R. Bottoms
Title: Chief Executive Officer
5.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
- ------ --------------------
4 Form of Rights Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, between the
Company and BankBoston, N.A., which includes the form of Certificate
of Designation for the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the
Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred Shares as Exhibit
C. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, printed Right Cer tificates
will not be mailed until as soon as practicable after the earlier of
(i) the close of business on the first date of a public announcement
that a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock or (ii) the tenth (10th) business
day (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board
of Directors) after a person commences, or announces its intention
to commence, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of
which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group
of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock.
21 Press Release dated June 1, 1998 regarding the Rights Agreement.
6.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
AND
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
(RIGHTS AGENT)
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF JUNE 2, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions................................................. 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent......................................... 6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates........................................ 6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates......................................... 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration................................... 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates............ 9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights....... 10
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates................. 11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock..................... 12
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date......................................... 13
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights.. 13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.......... 22
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power 22
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares............................. 25
Section 15. Rights of Action.................................................... 26
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders......................................... 26
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.................. 27
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent......................................... 27
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent........... 28
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.............................................. 28
</TABLE>
i
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent................................................ 30
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates................................... 31
Section 23. Redemption and Termination............................................ 32
Section 24. Exchange.............................................................. 32
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................. 34
Section 26. Notices............................................................... 35
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments............................................ 35
Section 28. Successors............................................................ 36
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.................. 36
Section 30. Benefits of This Agreement............................................ 36
Section 31. Severability.......................................................... 36
Section 32. Governing Law......................................................... 37
Section 33. Counterparts.......................................................... 37
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................. 37
</TABLE>
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock
Exhibit B - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Series A Preferred Stock
ii
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------------
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of June 2, 1998, between Credence Systems
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston, N.A., a
-------
national banking association (the "Rights Agent").
------------
WHEREAS, effective June 1, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
---------------------------
Date"), the Board of Directors authorized and declared a distribution of one
Right (each, a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined)
-----
of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined)
on June 22, 1998 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing the
-----------
right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Preferred Stock
----
(as hereinafter defined) upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set
forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with
respect to each share of Common Stock that shall become outstanding between the
Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or
the Final Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined).
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:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as hereinafter defined) who
----------------
or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates (as hereinafter defined)
of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding but shall not
include (1) 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 shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan, or (2) any Person who was the Beneficial Owner (as
hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding as
of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on June 1, 1998 (a "Permitted
---------
Investor"), or any of its Affiliates or Associates (collectively with the
- --------
Permitted Investor, an "Investor Group") to the extent that the members of an
--------------
Investor Group shall beneficially own in the aggregate up to, but not exceeding,
the Special Threshold Percentage (as hereinafter defined) of the shares of
Common Stock of the Company then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an
----------------
acqui sition of shares of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing
the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock of the Company then out standing; (or, in the case of an
Investor Group, more than the Special Threshold
1.
<PAGE>
Percentage of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding);
provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of
-------- -------
15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding
(or, in the case of an Investor Group, more than the Special Threshold
Percentage of the shares of Common Stock 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
shares of Common Stock of the Company (or, in the case of the members of an
Investor Group, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of
Common Stock of the Company), then such Person shall be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" hereunder; and
-----------------
(ii) if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith
that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition), has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person" (as defined pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this definition), then such Person shall not be deemed to be
an "Acquiring Person" for any purpose of this Agreement.
"Adjustment Shares" has the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii).
-----------------
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
--------- ---------
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act (as such term is hereinafter defined).
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); or
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing, other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights,
rights (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; provided further, however, that a Person
-------- ------- -------
shall not be deemed the
2.
<PAGE>
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this
----------------
subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding
to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (x)
arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations,
and (y) is not reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange
Act (or any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any
other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person
(or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, (whether or not in writing, other than
customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by
the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (e)) or disposing of any
securities of the Company; provided, however, that in no case shall an
-------- -------
officer or director of the Company be deemed (A) the Beneficial Owner of
any securities beneficially owned by another officer or director of the
Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons in their
capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (B) the Beneficial
Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the
officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer or
director may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan;
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of "Beneficial Owner" and
"beneficially own" to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used
with reference to a Person who is the Beneficial Owner of securities of the
Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding
together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and
outstanding which such Person would be deemed to beneficially own hereunder.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or
------------
a day on which banking institutions in the State of California or the state in
which the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
-----------------
Massachusetts time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a
-------- -------
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Massachusetts time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
"Common Stock" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the
------------
shares of common stock, par value $0.001, of the Company. "Common Stock" when
used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital
stock (or other equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other
Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or
Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
3.
<PAGE>
"Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
-------
Agreement.
"current per share market price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
"Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
-------------
hereof.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
-----------------
hereof.
"equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set forth in
---------------------------
Section 11(b) hereof.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
------------
amended.
"Exchange Act Regulations" shall mean the General Rules and
------------------------
Regulations under the Exchange Act.
"Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24
--------------
hereof.
"Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
---------------
hereof.
"Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
---------------------
7(a) hereof.
"NASDAQ" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.
------
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity,
------
and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
"Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par
---------------
value $0.001, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the
Form of Certificate of Designation attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
---------
"preferred stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in
---------------------------
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b)
--------------
hereof.
"Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
-----------
Agreement.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
---------------
hereof.
"Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a)
----------------
hereof.
"Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
-----
Agreement.
4.
<PAGE>
"Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
------------
this Agreement.
"Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)
------------------
hereof.
"Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
--------------------------------
the recitals to this Agreement.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in Section
-----------------------
11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) hereof.
"Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
------------------------------
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
"Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x), (y)
----------------
or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
"Section 24(a) Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section
----------------------------
24(a) hereof.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
--------------
"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) of the Exchange Act) by the
Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
"Special Threshold Percentage" shall mean the percentage of the then
----------------------------
outstanding Common Stock beneficially owned by an Investor Group as of the Close
of Business on June 1, 1998, provided, however, that such threshold percentage
-------- -------
shall be permanently ratcheted downward (but not below 15%) from time to time,
if and when such Investor Group beneficially owns a reduced percentage of the
then outstanding Common Stock (whether through sales by such Investor Group or
through an increase in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock), to
equal such reduced percentage ownership.
"Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii)
------
hereof.
"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.
"Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b)
-----------------
hereof.
"Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i)
-----------
hereof.
"Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
----------------
Section 13 Event.
5.
<PAGE>
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
---------------------------
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.
The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights
Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no way be
liable for the acts or omissions of, any such co-Rights Agents.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
----------------------------
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the Shares
Acquisition Date and (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or
such later date as may be determined by action of the Company's Board of
Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and of
which the Company will give the Rights Agent prompt written notice) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given
within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act Regulations or any
successor rule or of the first public announcement of the intention of 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 shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to
commence, a tender or exchange offer, if upon consummation thereof such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Company Common
Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii) above being the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
- ------------------
provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for shares of Common
Stock 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 right to receive Rights Certifi cates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock. As
soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will notify the
Rights Agent thereof and the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent
will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights
Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on
the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company, a Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a
---------
"Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so
------------------
held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such
Rights Certificates.
(b) On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the
Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-
--------- -----------------
class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as
of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown
on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates for shares of
Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with a
6.
<PAGE>
copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto. Until the Distribution Date (or
the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any certificate for shares
of Common Stock 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 shares of Common Stock represented thereby.
(c) Certificates for shares of Common Stock which become outstanding
(including, without limitation, reacquired shares of Common Stock referred to in
the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date shall have impressed
on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Credence
Systems Corporation and BankBoston, N.A., dated as of June 2, 1998
(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 Credence Systems Corporation. 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. Credence Systems Corporation 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
any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights
Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such person or
by any subsequent holder, may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date, the Rights associated
with the shares of Common Stock 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
shares of Common Stock represented thereby. In the event that the Company
purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior
to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock
shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled
to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock which are no
longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
---------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
Units of Pre ferred Stock and of assignment to be printed on the reverse
thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such
---------
marks of identification or designation and such
7.
<PAGE>
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 or transaction reporting system on which the Rights may from time to
time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof
to purchase the number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein
at the price per Unit of Preferred Stock set forth therein, but the number of
such Units of Preferred Stock and the Purchase Price shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant hereto that represents
Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or
of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or
understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e)
hereof 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 defined in the
Rights Agreement between Credence Systems Corporation and BankBoston,
N.A., as Rights Agent, dated as of June 2, 1998 (the "Rights
------
Agreement"). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights
represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances
specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
---------------------------------
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President, any of its Vice Presidents,
or its Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer, either manually or by facsimile
signature, shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof,
and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be
manually countersigned by the Rights Agent 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
8.
<PAGE>
to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on
behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of
such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its 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 Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
------------------------------------------------------
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof,
at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or
prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or
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 Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) 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 or Rights Certificates 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 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof, countersign
and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of
Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, 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 will make and deliver a new
Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for delivery to the
registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed
or mutilated.
9.
<PAGE>
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
------------------------------------------------------
Rights.
- ------
(a) Except as provided in Sections 23(c) and 7(e), 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 and certification 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 Unit of
Preferred Stock as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth anniversary hereof (the
"Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
- ----------------------
provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date"), or (iii) the time at
---------------
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the earlier of
(i), (ii) and (iii) being the "Expiration Date").
---------------
(b) The Purchase Price for each Unit of Preferred Stock pursuant to
the exercise of a Right shall initially be $165 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 number of Units of Preferred Stock (or
other securities or property, as the case may be) 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 Stock (or make available, if the Rights
Agent is the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock) a certificate or
certificates for the number of Units of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the
Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such
requests or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of
Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a
depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent of a depositary receipt
or depositary receipts representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as
are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Units of Preferred Stock
represented by such receipt or receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent
with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent
to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company
the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt
thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be
reduced (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made
in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the
Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities
of the Company,
10.
<PAGE>
pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company will 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 a number of Rights equivalent to the number of Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such
Rights Certificate or to such registered holder's duly authorized assigns,
subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, any Rights beneficially
owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such,
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the a majority of the
Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement
or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this
Section 7(e) or (iv) any subsequent transferee shall become null and void
without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights
whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this
Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure
that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any
other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect
to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (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
11.
<PAGE>
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.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.
-----------------------------------------------
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best
efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of and to the extent of
its authorized and unissued Units of Preferred Stock not reserved for another
purpose that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights. Upon the occurrence of any events resulting in an increase
in the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock (or other equity securities
of the Company) issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights above the
number then reserved, the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number
of shares so reserved.
(b) If the Units of Preferred Stock to be issued and delivered upon
the exercise of the Rights are at any time listed on a national securities
exchange or included for quotation on any transaction reporting system, the
Company shall during the period from the Distribution Date to the Expiration
Date use its best efforts to cause all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange or included for quotation on any such transaction
reporting system upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the
case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to
the securities 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) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no
longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the Expiration Date. The Company
will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance
with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with
the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall be available and until a
registration statement has been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all Units of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, any other securities that may be delivered
upon exercise of Rights) shall, at the
12.
<PAGE>
time of delivery of the certificates for such Units of Preferred Stock (subject
to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and
fully paid and non-assessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due
and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or
of any Units of Preferred Stock 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 depositary receipts for
Units of Preferred Stock in a name other than that of, the registered holder of
the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or
to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Units of Preferred Stock
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 reasonable
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name
---------------------------
any certificate for Units of Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall
for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Units of
Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other
securities) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the
date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly
surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer
taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
-------- --------
payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, 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 Stock transfer books of the Company are open; provided
--------
further, however, that if delivery of Units of Preferred Stock is delayed
- ------- -------
pursuant to Section 9(c), such Persons shall be deemed to have become the record
holders of such Units of Preferred Stock only when such Units first become
deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder
of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of
the Company with respect to securities 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. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder
of a Unit of Preferred Stock 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 and kinds of securities covered by
- ---------
each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from
time to time as provided in this Section 11.
13.
<PAGE>
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in
shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding shares of
Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller
number of shares Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital
stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such
reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a), 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 Rights exercised after such time shall
be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital
stock which, if such Rights had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company
were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been
entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the
-------- -------
consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable
upon exercise of one Right. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii), the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to,
and shall be made prior, to any adjustment required pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii).
(ii) A Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event that
(A) any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring
Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or
indirectly, shall (1) merge into the Company or otherwise combine with the
Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such merger or combination and shares of Company Common Stock shall remain
outstanding and unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a series of
transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
in exchange (in whole or in part) for shares of Company Common Stock, for
other equity securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or for
securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of equity securities
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether shares of Company Common
Stock or otherwise) or otherwise obtain from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any additional shares of such
equity securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into such
equity securities other than pursuant to a pro rata distribution to all
holders of shares of Company Common Stock, (3) sell, purchase, lease,
exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in
one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect
to such plan acting in such capacity, assets (including securities) on
terms and conditions less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary or
plan than those that could have been obtained in arm's-length negotiations
with an unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a transaction set
forth in Section 13(a) hereof, (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge,
14.
<PAGE>
transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a series
of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting
in such capacity (other than transactions, if any, consistent with those
engaged in, as of the date hereof, by the Company and such Acquiring Person
or such Associate or Affiliate), assets (including securities or intangible
assets) having an aggregate fair market value of more than $5 million,
other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, (5)
receive, or any designee, agent or representative of such Acquiring Person
or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person shall receive, any
compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than
compensation for full-time employment as a regular employee at rates in
accordance with the Company's (or its Subsidiaries') past practices, or (6)
receive the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
holder of shares of Company Common Stock or as required by law or
governmental regulation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or
other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages
provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit
plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or
fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity; or (B) any
Person shall become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing the
Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section
13(a); or (C) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall
be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split),
or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation of the
Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series of
transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than a
transaction or transactions to which the provisions of Section 13(a) apply
(whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person),
which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1%
the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is directly or
indirectly beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Person or any
Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person;
then promptly following the occurrence of an event described in Section
11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) (a "Section 11(a)(ii) Event"), 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 in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then-
current Purchase Price, in lieu of the number of Units of Preferred Stock for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall equal
the result obtained by multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the then
number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable (or would
have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50%
of the current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) for shares of Common Stock on the date of occurrence of the Triggering
Event (such number of Units of Preferred Stock being hereinafter referred to as
the "Adjustment Shares").
-----------------
15.
<PAGE>
(iii) In the event that the number of Units of Preferred Stock
which are authorized by the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the
exercise in full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for
such issuance has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall, in
lieu of issuing Units of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, upon approval by a majority of the Board of Directors:
(A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Units of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the
-------------
Purchase Price (such excess being referred to as the "Spread") and (B) with
------
respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such Units
of Preferred Stock, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a reduction
in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, Common Stock or shares or units of shares
of any series of preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the
Company has deemed to have the same value as the Units of Preferred Stock
(such shares or units of preferred stock are herein called "preferred stock
---------------
equivalents")), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any
-----------
necessary regulatory approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the
Company, except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any
necessary regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other assets or (6)
any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate
-------- -------
provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30)
days following the later of (x) occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to
Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as
the "Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated
-------------------------------
to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without
requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Units of Preferred Stock (to the
extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained
any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance, and then, if
necessary, cash, which Units and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to
the Spread.
(b) In the event that the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Units of Preferred
Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such
record date) to subscribe for or purchase Units of Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock
("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Units of
- ----------------------------
Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per Unit of Preferred
Stock or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if
a security convertible into Units of Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred
stock) less than the then current per share market price of a Unit of Preferred
Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) 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
16.
<PAGE>
of Units of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of
Units of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number
of Units of Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current market price and the denominator
of which shall be the number of Units of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date plus the number of additional Units of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).
In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of
which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall
be as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the
Rights. Units of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the
Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.
Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed;
and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to
all holders of Units of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend) assets (other than a dividend payable in Units
of Preferred Stock but including any dividend payable in equity securities other
than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(d) 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 then current per share market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d)) of the Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holder of
rights) of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness to be distributed or of
such subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect of a share of
Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current per share
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) of a share of Preferred
Stock. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date
is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase
Price shall 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, the "current
-------
per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of
---------------------- --------
this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (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 Security is determined during a period
----------------------
following the
17.
<PAGE>
announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or
distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or
securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision,
combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to the
expiration of thirty (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 share equivalent of such Security. 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 Nasdaq National Market System ("NASDAQ") or,
------
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange,
the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and
low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the NASDAQ
or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is
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 Security selected by a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the
Security, the "current per share market price" of such Security on such
------------------------------
date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
as provided for above shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a
-----------
day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Security is 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 Stock shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the "current
per share market price" of the Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the
manner provided above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or
listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d),
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Stock shall be
conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to $1,000 (as such amount may be
appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and
recapitalizations with respect to shares of Company Common Stock occurring
after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price
per share of Company Common Stock. If shares of neither the Company Common
Stock nor Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, "current
per share market price" of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value
per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders
of the Rights.
18.
<PAGE>
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
-------- -------
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock or one-hundredth of any other share or security 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)(ii)
hereof, the holder of any Rights thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Units of Preferred
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Rights and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Section 11(a), (b),
(c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), and the provisions of
Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on
like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Units of Preferred Stock
purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject
to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of Units of Preferred
Stock (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock)
obtained by dividing (i) the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of
Units of Preferred Stock 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 by, (ii) 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 Units of Preferred Stock 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 Units of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.
Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall
become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth)
obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately
after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public
announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the
record
19.
<PAGE>
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 to be so distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein 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 Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights,
the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to
express the Purchase Price per Unit and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of Units of Preferred
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate
action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the
Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable number of
Units of Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Rights exercised after such record date
of that number of Units of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities
of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Units of
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior
to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
-------- -------
holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right
to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) 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 (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any Unit of Preferred Stock at less than the current
market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Stock or securities
which by their terms are convertible
20.
<PAGE>
into or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, (iv) dividends on Preferred Stock
payable in Preferred Stock or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of
Units of its Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date,
(i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in
a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), if (x)
at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
Person which constitutes, or would constitute the "Principal Party" for purposes
of Section 13(a) shall have distributed or otherwise transferred to its
stockholders or other persons holding an equity interest in such Person Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates;
provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect the ability of any
- -------- -------
Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or
transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(o) After the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as
permitted by Section 23 or Section 26, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take)
any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that
such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) In the event that, at any time after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock
or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of
Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in
any such case the number of Units of Preferred Stock purchasable after such
event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the
number of Units of Preferred Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such
event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event.
The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively
whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination
or consolidation is effected.
21.
<PAGE>
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 promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the shares of
Common Stock or Units of Preferred Stock a copy of such certificate and (c) mail
a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance
with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure by
the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the
validity of 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) Except as provided in Section 13(b) hereof, in the event that,
following a 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 which complies with Section 11(o)),
and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)) shall consolidate with the
Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the shares of
Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of
any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer) to any Person or Persons (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), in one or more transactions,
directly or indirectly, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the
assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole),
(any such event being a "Section 13 Event"), then, and in each such case, proper
----------------
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided
in Section 7(e), shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, such number of validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), which shares shall not be
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer
restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of Units of
Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of
such Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder
but for the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price
which would be in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence) and (2)
dividing that product (which, following the direct occurrence of a Section 13
Event, shall be the "Purchase Price" for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50%
of the current per share market price (determined pursuant
22.
<PAGE>
to Section 11(d)) of the shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party on the
date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
the term "Company" shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, thereafter be
deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party following the
first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take
such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient
number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any
such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions of this
Agreement shall thereafter be applicable to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) shall be of no further effect following the first
occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
---------------
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Company Common Stock are
converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one
such issuer, the issuer of shares of Common Stock that has the highest
aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) and
(B) if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to
such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person,
the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate current
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)); and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving
the largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to
such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or
earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or
if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power
cannot be determined, whichever Person the Common Stock of which has the
highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section
11(d)); provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock
-------- -------
of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the
preceding twelve-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act ("Registered Common Stock"), or such Person is not a corporation, and
-----------------------
such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has
Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to such
other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered
Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the ultimate parent entity of
such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not
Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such
Person is directly or indirectly
23.
<PAGE>
controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of such other Persons
has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to
whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common
Stock having the highest aggregate current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)); and (4) if the Common Stock of such
Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation,
and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one
Person, and none of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock
outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate parent
entity is the corporation having the greatest stockholders' equity or, if
no such ultimate parent entity is a corporation, shall refer to whichever
ultimate parent entity is the entity having the greatest net assets.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13, and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that the Principal Party will:
(i) (A) file on an appropriate form, as soon as practicable
following the execution of such agreement, a registration statement under
the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock that may be
acquired upon exercise of the Rights, (B) cause such registration statement
to remain effective (and to include a prospectus complying with the
requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and (C) as
soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement take such
action as may be required to ensure that any acquisition of such shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of the Rights complies with any applicable
state securities or "blue sky" laws; and
(ii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply
in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the
Exchange Act.
(d) In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a
transaction referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its
authorized securities or in its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or other
instrument governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the
effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a
consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section
13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities
exercisable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock of such Principal
Party at less than such then current marker price (other than to holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment,
tax or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section
13, then, in such event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction
unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal
24.
<PAGE>
Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall
have been cancelled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall
be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection
with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to
successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
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. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ or, if the Rights are
not listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by NASDAQ or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the Directors. If on any such date no such market
maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such
date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth
of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Stock (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock). Fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, however, that such
-------- -------
agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary
25.
<PAGE>
receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are
entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock represented by such
depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are
not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the
Company shall 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 a share of Preferred Stock as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d).
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
----------------
this Agreement, excepting the rights of action 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
certificates representing shares of Common Stock); and any registered holder of
any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, a certificate
representing shares of Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or
of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock), may, in such
holder's own behalf and for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to
enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's right to exercise the
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 will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations hereunder, 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 shares of the Company's Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or
accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;
(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 Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
(notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
26.
<PAGE>
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
-------- -------
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
--------------------------------------------------
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Units of Preferred
Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold
consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other
actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 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. 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 any loss,
liability or expenses incurred in connection with its performance under this
Agreement, unless caused by the Rights Agent's gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct. The indemnity provided herein shall survive the termination
of this Agreement and the expiration of the Rights. The costs and expenses
incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the
Company.
The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected and
shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this Agreement and the
exercise and performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Units of Preferred Stock or shares of Common
Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed
27.
<PAGE>
and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons,
or otherwise upon the advice of 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 stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as 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 counter signed; 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 Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name
or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force 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 and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this
Agreement against the Rights Agent, by all of which the Company and the holders
of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may
consult with legal counsel of its choice (who may be legal counsel for the
Company), and the advice or opin ion of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the administration, exercise and performance of its
duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or
desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior
to taking, suffering or omitting any action
28.
<PAGE>
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
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice Presi dent, the Treasurer or
the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken, suffered or omitted in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any
other Person only in the event of loss, liability or damages caused by the
Rights Agent's gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the 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 liability or
responsibility in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof
by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the legality, validity or enforceability
or the execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof
and has actual knowledge of such change or adjustment); nor shall it be liable
or 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 (including the
Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) or any adjustment in
the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof)
provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, 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
of the certificate described in Section 12 hereof or has actual knowledge of
such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make
any repre sentation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any
Units of Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Stock 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 assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the administration, exercise and performance of its
duties hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer of
the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instruc tions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be responsible or liable for any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for
29.
<PAGE>
any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by
the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of
the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or
omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or
after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The
Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the
Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on
or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less
than five (5) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually
received such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received
written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be
taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided 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
the Rights Agent in good faith believes 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, transfer, split up, combination or exchange, the
certification on the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the
case may be, that the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate are not owned
by an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, has either not
been completed or in any manner indicates any other response thereto, the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise,
transfer, split up, combination or exchange, without first consulting with the
Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
----------------------
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this
Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as to which the
Rights Agent has received prior written notice) by registered or
30.
<PAGE>
certified mail, and the Company shall mail notice thereof to the holders of the
Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as to which the
Rights Agent has received prior written notice) by registered or certified mail,
and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such
holder's Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered
holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights
Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state of the United States, in good standing, authorized under such laws
to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers, and 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
million. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock or
Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this
Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or
validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of
the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding
-----------------------------------
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection
with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution
Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee benefit plan or arrangement or upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange of securities of the Company currently outstanding or
issued at any time in the future by the Company and (b) may, in any other case,
if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company,
issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
-------- -------
Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab
--
initio if,
- ------
31.
<PAGE>
and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a
significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would
create a significant risk of or result in such options' or employee plans' or
arrangements' failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment
and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
--------------------------
(a) The Company may, at its option, upon approval by a majority of the
Board of Directors, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) 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 $0.001 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 cash, shares of Common Stock (based
on the current per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption), or any other form of consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The redemption of the Rights by
the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time on such basis and with
such conditions as a majority of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion
may establish.
(b) Immediately upon the action of a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this Section 23, 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.
The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided,
--------
however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not
- -------
affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days after such action of a
majority of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the
Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and shall mail
a notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights 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 Stock. 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 shares of
Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 7(a) at any
time when the Rights are redeemable hereunder.
Section 24. Exchange.
--------
32.
<PAGE>
(a) The Company, at its option, upon approval by a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, may 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 Units of Preferred Stock at an exchange ratio equal
to, subject to adjustment to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar
transactions occurring after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing
the Purchase Price by the then current per share market price per Unit of
Preferred Stock on the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person and (ii) the date on which a tender or exchange offer by any
Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee
or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity) is first
published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange
Act Regulations or any successor rule, if upon consummation thereof such Person
would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Section
-------
24(a) Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not
- --------------------
effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such
plan acting in such capacity), together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this
Section 24 and without any further action and 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 Units of Preferred Stock equal
to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 24(a)
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. The Company promptly
shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.
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 Units of Preferred Stock for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of
Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata
--- ----
based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant
to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that the number of shares of Preferred Stock which
are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation but not outstanding
or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are
not sufficient to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance
with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary
to authorize additional shares of Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of
the Rights or make adequate provision to substitute (1) cash, (2) Company Common
Stock or other equity securities of the Company, (3) debt securities of the
Company,
33.
<PAGE>
(4) other assets, or (5) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate
value equal to the Adjustment Spread, where such aggregate value has been
determined by a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions smaller than
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractions smaller than one one-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. In lieu thereof, the Company shall
pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which
such fractional Units would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market value (as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) hereof) of one Unit of Preferred Stock.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
------------------------
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable
in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Stock or to make any other
distribution to the holders of its Preferred Stock (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Stock
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Units of
Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Stock), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with
Section 11(o)), 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 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or to effect
a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common
Stock), 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
reclassifica tion, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock and/or shares of Preferred
Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the
case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least ten (10) days
prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred
Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at
least ten (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or
the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock
and/or shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company 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 notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under
34.
<PAGE>
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof. In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
the Company will promptly notify the Rights Agent thereof.
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:
Credence Systems Corporation
215 Fourier Avenue
Fremont, California 94539
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
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 sent by registered or
certified mail and shall be deemed given upon receipt and addressed (until
another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Boston EquiServe Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Attention: Therese M. Collins
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. Prior to the Distribution
--------------------------
Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect, without
the approval of any holders of Rights, by action of its Board of Directors, and
the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or
amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company may from time to
time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Rights, by action of its Board of Directors, in order (i) to cure any ambiguity,
(ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or
lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement the
provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of an Acquiring Person), including, without limitation, to change the Purchase
Price, the Redemption Price, any time periods herein specified, and any other
term hereof, any such supplement or
35.
<PAGE>
amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights
Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an
-------- -------
Acquiring Person, this Agreement shall not be amended in any manner which would
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights. Upon receipt of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that the proposed
supplement or amendment is consistent with this Section 27 and, after such time
as any Person has become an Acquiring Person, that the proposed supplement or
amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
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 shares of
Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board of Directors, or 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 of Directors in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on
the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all
other parties and (y) not subject the Board of 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 or corporation other than the Company,
the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, shares of Common Stock) any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, shares
of Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
------------
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
- -------- -------
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be
36.
<PAGE>
invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from
this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement,
the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and
shall not expire until the tenth Business Day following the date of such
determination by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Rights
-------------
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts 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 or convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
By_________________________________
Name:
Title
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By_________________________________
Name:
Title
37.
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
---------
FORM
of
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
__________________________________
Credence Systems Corporation, a corporation organized and existing
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called
the "Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted
-----------
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting as of
June 1, 1998;
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of the Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
--------
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
- --------- -----
of Incorporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of the Corporation and
---------------
hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative
rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall
----------------------
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
--------
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
- ---------------
Stock shall be two hundred seventy thousand (270,000) shares. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A
- --------
A-1
<PAGE>
Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus
the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities
issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series
of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the
Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, each holder of a share
of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive,
when declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for
the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March,
June, Septem ber 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 Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, One Thousand (1,000) times the aggregate
per share amount of all cash dividends, and One Thousand (1,000) times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common
Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of a
share or fraction of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivi sion or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of
Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A
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
shares of Series A 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, however, that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall
have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any
Quarterly Distribution Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date,
A-2
<PAGE>
a dividend of $.01 per share of Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless
be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on each
outstanding share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock from the
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such
share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue
of such share is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in which case dividends on such share shall begin to accrue
from the date of issue of such share, or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to
receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends
at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata
on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment
of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be
not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
-------------
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
One Thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or
lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number
of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or
by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders
of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
A-3
<PAGE>
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A 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 holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Preferred
Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on
any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the shares of Series
A 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 any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for
shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance
with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined
by the Board of Directors) to all holders of 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.
A-4
<PAGE>
(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.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A 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
subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the
Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations
creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise
required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
--------------------------------------
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to divi dends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received One Thousand Dollars
($1,000) per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment,
provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to
be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause
(1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full to the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock, then
such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity
shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event,
however, that there are not
A-5
<PAGE>
sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common Adjustment,
then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of Common
Stock.
(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, then in each such case
the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the numerator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. 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 each share of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to One Thousand (1,000) times the aggregate amount
of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the
case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then
in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to
the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock
-------------
shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with
----
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to
all series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Amended and Restated Certificate of
---------
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
A-6
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its
corporate seal attested by its Secretary this __ day of June, 1998.
_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
A-7
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
---------
Form of Rights Certificate
Certificate No. R- ________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF RECORD DATE OR EARLIER
IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CER
TAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON
OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME
NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE
OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED
IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND
THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SUCH AGREEMENT.]*
Rights Certificate
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
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 June 2, 1998 (the "Rights Agree ment"), between Credence
Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BankBoston,
N.A. (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 to
5:00 P.M.,
- --------------------------
* The portion of the legend in bracket shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
B-1
<PAGE>
California time, on June 1, 2008 at the office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-
thousandth (a "Unit") of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $165.00 per Unit of Ser
ies A Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of
this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed.
The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of
Units of Series A Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof)
set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of June __, 1998 based on the Series A Preferred Stock as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of Units of Series A Preferred Stock 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.
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 Series A Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such
holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the
holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption
price of $0.001 per Right.
No fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued upon
the exercise of any Rights or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Series A
Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of Units of
Series A Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at
any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
B-2
<PAGE>
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Rights 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.
WITNESS the signature of the proper officers of the Company and its
corporate seal. Dated as of ____________.
ATTEST: CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
_________________________________ By__________________________________
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
By_______________________________
Authorized Signatory
B-3
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney,
to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named
Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ______________________, ____
_______________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Securities
Transfer Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
B-4
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
_____________________________________
Signature
--------------------------
NOTICE
------
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment must conform 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 certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment
is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent 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 defined in the Rights Agreement)
and such Assignment will not be honored.
B-5
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
To Credence Systems Corporation
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to
purchase the units of Series A Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of
such Rights and requests that certificates for such Series A Preferred Stock be
issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number____________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number___________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: __________________, ____
____________________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Securities Transfer
Association Inc. recognized signature guarantee medallion program.
B-6
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE
-----------
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
___________________________________________
Signature
-----------------------------
NOTICE
------
The signature in the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase must conform
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 certification set forth above in the Form of Election
to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the Company and the Rights
Agent 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
defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Election to Purchase will not be
honored.
B-7
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
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CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SHARES OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
On June 1, 1998, the Board of Directors of Credence Systems
Corporation (the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase
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right (a "Right") for each out standing share of Common Stock (the "Common
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Stock"), par value $.001 per share, of the Company. The dividend is payable on
June 22, 1998 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date.
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Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-
thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
----
Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), of the
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Company at a price of $165 per Unit (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
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adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement dated as of June 2, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company
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and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
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Until the earlier to occur of (i) public announcement by the Company
or an Acquiring Person that a Person or group of affiliated or associated
persons (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or
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more (or such greater percentage amount as is held by Persons or groups on June
1, 1998; such greater percentage limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as
such Persons' or group's percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of
the outstanding Common Stock 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 becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or
announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group of 15% or more of such outstanding Common Stock (the earlier of such dates
being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with
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respect to any of the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Stock certificate with a copy of this Summary of Rights
attached thereto. The Board has discretion to correct situations where persons
inadvertently become Acquiring Persons as long as such persons as promptly as
practicable sell their excess shares.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new
Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new
issuance of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration
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of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock,
outstanding as of 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 Stock represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of
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record of the Common Stock 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 June 1, 2008 (the "Final
-----
Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the
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Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as
described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock
or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Units of Preferred Stock
of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Units of Preferred
Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Units of Preferred Stock with a
conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Units of
Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Units of
Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends
payable in Units of Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants
(other than those referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the
event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common
Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of
the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Units of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will
not be redeemable. Each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a dividend
equal to any dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a payment equal to
any payment made per share of Common Stock. Each Unit of Preferred Stock will
have one vote, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in the event of
any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock
are exchanged, each Unit of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive an
amount equal to the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are
protected by customary anti dilution provisions.
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Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights,
the value of each Unit of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.
In the event that, after the Rights become exercisable, the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction with an Acquiring
Person or an affiliate thereof, or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold to an Acquiring Person or an affiliate thereof, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of
the Rights, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which
at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Rights.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more (or such greater percentage
amount as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater percentage
limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or group's
percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right,
other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of shares of Common Stock or Units of Preferred Stock (or cash,
other securities or property) having a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Rights.
At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or such greater
percentage amount as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater
percentage limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or
group's percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of
50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the
Company may exchange all or part of the Rights (other than Rights owned by such
person or group which have become void) for Units of Preferred Stock at an
exchange ratio of (subject to adjustment) which shall equal, subject to
adjustment to reflect stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions
occurring after the date hereof, that number obtained by dividing the Purchase
Price by the then current per share market price per Unit of Preferred Stock on
the earlier of (i) the date on which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and
(ii) the date on which a tender or exchange offer is announced by any Person, if
upon consummation thereof such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the shares of Company Common Stock then outstanding.
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 shares of Preferred Stock will be issued
(other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts) and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash
will
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be made based on the market price of the Units of Preferred Stock on the last
trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more (or such greater
percentage amount as is held by Persons or groups on June 1, 1998; such greater
percentage limit to be permanently ratcheted downward as such Persons' or
group's percentage ownership may decrease from time to time) of the outstanding
Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the "Redemption Price").
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The redemption of the rights may be made effective at such time on such basis
and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish. Immediately upon any 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. The Rights are also redeemable under other
circumstances as specified in the Rights Agreement.
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 except that from
and after a Distribution Date no such amendment may adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an
offer conditioned 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 because the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the
Redemption Price prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date.
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.
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EXHIBIT 21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Dr. Wilmer Bottoms Dennis Wolf
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
(510) 657-7400 (510) 657-7400
CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
FREMONT, Calif. -- June 1, 1998 -- Credence Systems Corporation (Nasdaq
NMS: CMOS) announced today that its Board of Directors adopted a Stockholder
Rights Plan in which preferred stock purchase rights will be distributed as a
dividend at the rate of one right for each share of Common Stock held as of the
close of business on June 22, 1998.
Each Right will entitle stockholders to buy one one-thousandth of a share
of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company at an Exercise Price of $165. The
Rights are designed to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive and
coercive tactics that might be used in an attempt to gain control of the Company
or to deprive stockholders of their interests in the long-term value of the
Company.
The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 15% or
more of the Company's Common Stock or announces a tender offer the consummation
of which result in ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the
Company's Common Stock. Each Right will entitle stockholders to buy one one-
thousandth of a share of a new series of junior participating preferred stock at
an exercise price of $165 upon certain events. The Plan, pursuant to which the
Rights are granted, permits any stockholder currently holding in excess of 15%
of Credence to continue to hold its stake in the Company, but does not permit
any increase in such stake and the maximum stake permitted for any such
stockholder will permanently ratchet downward (but not below 15%) if and when
such stockholder reduces its holding in Credence.
If a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock, or a holder of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock engages
in certain self-dealing transactions or a merger transaction in which the
Company is the surviving corporation and its Common Stock remains outstanding,
then each Right not owned by such person or certain related parties will entitle
its holder to purchase, at the Right's then-current exercise price, units of the
Company's Series A Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances, Company Common
Stock, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a market value
equal to twice the then-current exercise price. In addition, if, after the
Rights become exercisable, Credence is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction, or sells 50% or more of its assets or earnings power,
each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's then-current
price, a number of the acquiriing company's common shares having a market value
at the time of twice the Right's exercise price.
At any time on or prior to the close of business on the first date of a
public announcement that a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership 15%
or more of the Company's Common Stock, the Rights are redeemable for one-tenth
of one cent per Right at the option of the Board of Directors.
The Rights are intended to enable all stockholders to realize the long-term
value of their investment in the Company. The Rights will not prevent a
takeover attempt, but should encourage anyone seeking to acquire the Company to
negotiate with the Board prior to attempting a takeover.
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The dividend distribution will be made on June 22, 1998, payable to
stockholders of record on that date. The Rights will expire ten years after the
execution of the Rights Agreement by the Company and the Rights Agent. The
initial distribution of Rights is not taxable to stockholders.
Credence Systems Corporation is a leader in the manufacture of automatic
test equipment (ATE) for the worldwide semiconductor industry. Credence offers
a wide range of products with test capabilities for digital, mixed-signal, and
memory semiconductors. Utilizing its patented CMOS technologies, Credence
products are designed to meet the strict time-to-market and cost of ownership
requirements of its customers.
Headquartered in Fremont, California, the company maintains advanced
production and design facilities in Beaverton, Oregon. Credence, an ISO 9001
certified manufacturer, is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
CMOS. More information is available at www.credence.com.
Credence, and Credence Systems are trademarks of Credence Systems
Corporation. Other trademarks which may be mentioned in this release are the
intellectual property of their respective owners.
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2.
