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EXHIBIT 4
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time, this
"Agreement"), is made and entered into as of June 15, 2000, between AMEDISYS,
INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &
TRUST COMPANY, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent", which term shall include any
successor Rights Agent hereunder).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized,
declared and granted a distribution of one right ("Right") in respect of each
share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) held of record as of the close of
business on June 15, 2000 (the "Record Date") and (b) authorized the issuance of
one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Date
and prior to the Separation Date (as hereinafter defined) and, to the extent
herein provided, each share of Common Stock issued after the Separation Date;
and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on
behalf of the Company, and the Rights Agent desires to accept said appointment,
in connection with the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights
Certificates (as hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters
referred to herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I: CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated: "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who
or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, is a
Beneficial Owner of 15%or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock;
provided, however, that the term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person
(i) who is the Beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock on the date of this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a
result of an acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock, until such
time hereafter or thereafter as any of such Person shall become the Beneficial
Owner (other than by means of a stock dividend or stock split) of any additional
shares of Common Stock, (ii) who is the Beneficial owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock but who acquired Beneficial Ownership of
shares of Common Stock without any plan or intention to seek or affect control
of the Company, if such Person promptly enters into an irrevocable commitment
promptly to divest, and thereafter promptly divests (without exercising or
retaining any power, including voting power, with respect to such shares),
sufficient shares of Common Stock so that such Person ceases to be the
Beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iii)
who Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock consisting solely of one or more of
(A) shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to
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the grant or exercise of an option granted to such Person by the Company in
connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company entered into
prior to a Flip-In Date, (B) shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by such
Person or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of grant of such option or
(C) shares of Common Stock acquired by Affiliates or Associates of such Person
after the time of such grant which, in the aggregate, amount to less than 1% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) who Beneficially Owns Preferred
Stock of the Company, which, upon conversion to Common Stock would cause such
Person to Beneficially Own 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock. In
addition, the Company, any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and any
employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or a
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company shall not be included in the definition
of an Acquiring Person.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12 b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such
Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner", and to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own", any securities as to which
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner of pursuant to Rule 13 d-3 and 13 d-5 under the
Securities Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this
Agreement as well as any securities as to which such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has the right to become Beneficial Owner
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time
or the occurrence of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, 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", or to have
"Beneficial Ownership" of, or to"Beneficially Own", any security (i) solely
because such security has been tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such
tendered security is accepted for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the
power to vote or direct the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable
proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made to more
than ten holders of shares of a class of stock of the Company registered under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, except if such power (or the arrangements relating
thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13 D under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (or any similar provision of a comparable or successor
report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer or director of the Company
shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of any other Person by virtue
of any actions such officer or director takes in such capacity. For purposes of
this Agreement, in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial Owner, all shares
as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed
outstanding.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are generally authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. New York,
New York time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m.
New York, New York time on the next succeeding Business Day).
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $.001
per share, of the Company, or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or
exercisable for Common Stock.
"Exchange Date" shall mean the date on which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a
holder may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right.
Until adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price
shall equal $15.00.
"Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Date,
(ii) the Termination Date, (iii) June 14, 2010 and (iv) upon the merger of the
Company into another corporation pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to
a Flip-In Date.
"Flip-In Date" shall mean the tenth business day after any Stock
Acquisition Date or such earlier or later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-In
Date that would otherwise have occurred.
"Flip-Over Entity" for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the
case of a Flip-Over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the
definition thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of
Common Stock are being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are
being issued, the other party to such Flip-Over Transaction or Event and (ii) in
the case of a Flip-Over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the
definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or
earning power being transferred in such Flip-Over Transaction or Event, provided
in all cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation, the parent
corporation shall be the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity
interest)with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors
(or other persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and
affairs) of the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after a Flip-In Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the
Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with any
other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share exchange or
at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board
of Directors of the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning
the treatment of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share
exchange relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and
arrangements relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person
with whom the transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring
Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise
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transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer)
assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets(measured by either book value
or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating income or
cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries(taken as a whole) to any Person
(other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries) or to
two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates or otherwise acting
in concert, if, at the time of the entry by the Company (or any such Subsidiary)
into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer of assets, the Acquiring
Person Controls the Board of Directors of the Company. An Acquiring Person shall
be deemed to "Control" the Company's Board of Directors when, following a
Flip-In Date, the persons who were directors of the Company before the Flip-In
Date shall cease to constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 10 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market
Price on any Trading Days during such period of 10 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on any
date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the securities are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or 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 securities selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if on any such date
the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, the closing price per share
of such securities on such date shall mean the fair value per share of
securities on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm, and set forth in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association,
group(as such term is used in Rule 13 d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or
other entity.
"Separation Date" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of
(i)the tenth business day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the
Company may from time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation
Date that would otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any
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Person commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result
in such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-In Date;
provided, that if the foregoing results in the Separation Date being prior to
the Record Date, the Separation Date shall be the Record Date and provided
further, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this
paragraph is canceled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation
Date without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such
offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become
such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or
a majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly
,by such Person.
"Termination Date" shall mean the date on which the right to exercise
the Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open to transact business or,
if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities exchange on
which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open to transact
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange, a Business Day.
ARTICLE II: THE RIGHTS
2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Date,
the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Record Date, at such holder's address
as shown by the records of the Company.
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the Common
Stock issued after the Record Date but prior to the Separation Date shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall
have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
"Until the Separation Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement
referred to below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the
holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement,
dated as of June 15, 2000 (as such may be amended from time to time,
the "Rights Agreement"), between Amedisys, Inc. (the "Company") and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, the terms of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which
is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company. Under
certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such
Rights may be terminated,
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may become exercisable for securities or assets of the Company or of
another entity, may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or other
securities or assets of the Company, may expire, may become void (if
they are "Beneficially Owned" by an "Acquiring Person", as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement, or by any transferee of any of the
foregoing) or may be evidenced by separate certificates and may no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail or
arrange for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder
of this certificate without charge promptly after the receipt of a
written request therefor."
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Date shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will
entitle the holder thereof, after the Separation Date and prior to the
Expiration Date, to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof in
accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number of
shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock Acquisition
Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the
Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the
interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or after such
stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous to any of the events
described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to the
Common Stock).
(b) Until the Separation Date, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii)
each Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of
Common Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record
Date, with the letter or notice mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to
Section 2.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be
transferred by a transfer (whether with or without such letter or notice) of,
such associated share of Common Stock.
(c) Subject to this Section 2.3 and to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10,
after the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Rights (i) may
be exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock.
Promptly following the Separation Date, the Rights Agent will mail to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Date (other than any
Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such
holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby
agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this
purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights
held by such holder at the Separation Date and having such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and
(y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
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(d) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, Rights may be exercised on
any Business Day after the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise" substantially in the
form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
by wire transfer or by certified or official bank check or money order payable
to the order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by
the number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer
tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for shares or depository receipts (or both) in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition
from a transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or
other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its
transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company
elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional
shares, requisition from the depository selected by the Company depository
receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from
the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates,
depository receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of
certificates or depository receipts) in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of
Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares
(subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized,
executed, issued and delivered and fully paid and non assessable; (ii) take all
such action as maybe necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in
connection with the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii)
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or
charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights being
transferred or exercised.
2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price/Rights. (a) In the event Company
shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Separation Date (i)
declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise
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Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise Price in
effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number of shares of
Common Stock (the "Expansion Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or combination would hold
thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment
will become that number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the
adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they
remain outstanding) and the shares issued in respect of such dividend,
subdivision or combination, so that each such share of Common Stock will have
exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment made pursuant to this
paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective date for the applicable
dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and
prior to the Separation Date issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in
a transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common
Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the
extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect
of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the
Separation Date.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date
and prior to the Separation Date issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)whether
by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any such
transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or otherwise,
the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the number of Rights and/or
securities or other property purchasable upon exercise of Rights as the Board of
Directors of the Company, in its sole discretion, may deem to be appropriate
under the circumstances in order to adequately protect the interests of the
holders of Rights generally, and the Company and the Rights Agent shall amend
this Agreement as necessary to provide for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section
2.4 shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the
Exercise Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i)
promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief
statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file
with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy
of such certificate. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any
such certificate and on any adjustment therein and shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a
certificate.
Rights certificates shall represent the securities purchasable under
the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though such
certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time of
issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the
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holder of record of the shares represented thereby on the date upon which the
Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of
the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any applicable taxes and other
governmental charges payable by the exercising holder hereunder) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the stock 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 stock transfer
books of the Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or one of its
Executive Officers, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly after the Separation Date, the Company will notify the Rights
Agent of such Separation Date and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by
the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject to Section
3.1 (b), the Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such Rights
Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c) hereof. No
Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless manually countersigned
by the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After the
Separation Date, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The Rights
Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of maintaining the
Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and transfers of Rights
after the Separation Date as herein provided. In the event that the Rights Agent
shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right to
examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation Date.
After the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon
surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate,
and subject to the provisions of Section 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will
execute and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the
holder or the designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the
holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same
aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued
upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be
the valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the
same benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such
registration of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or
exchange of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b),
been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been terminated under Section 5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) If
any mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the
Expiration Date, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the Company
shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did
the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent
prior to the Expiration Date (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any of their
agents harmless, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights
Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall
execute and upon its request the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in
lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate
so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights
Agent)connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and, subject to Section 3.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat
<PAGE> 11
the person in whose name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation
Date, such Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof
and of the Rights evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. As
used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder"
of any Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the
Separation Date, the associated shares of Common Stock).
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights Certificates
surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be delivered to the
rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent.
The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation any
Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered hereunder which the
Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Rights Certificates
so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent. No Rights
Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any Rights
Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as expressly
permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all canceled Rights
Certificates to the Company.
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Separation Date, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Date, the Rights Certificates will be
transferable only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights
Certificate(or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof.
ARTICLE III: RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Date a
Flip-In Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right
shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company,
<PAGE> 12
upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to
Section 5.10), that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market
Price on the Stock Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that on or after such stock Acquisition Date an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were
Beneficially Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person
or by any transferee, direct or indirect, of any of the foregoing shall become
void and any holder of such Rights (including transferees) shall thereafter have
no right to exercise or transfer such Rights Under any provision of this
Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is presented for assignment or exercise and
the Person presenting the same will not complete the certification set forth at
the end of the form of assignment or notice of election to exercise and provide
such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner and its
Affiliates and Associates (or former Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates and
Associates) as the Company shall reasonably request, then the Company shall be
entitled conclusively to deem the Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring
Person or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the
Rights evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any
time after a Flip-In Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common stock,
elect to exchange all (but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of
Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests
of holders of Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Date an
event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or(b)
shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such exchange ratio, as
adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors electing
to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof(specifying the
steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange for Rights) to
the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights that have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior thereto by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares 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 any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the stock transfer books
<PAGE> 13
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 Company's stock transfer books are open.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company to permit the
exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(a) or
(c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of shareholders seeking
approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be authorized (provided that
if such approval is not obtained the Company will take the action specified in
clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action as shall be necessary to
ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any agreements
or instruments in effect on the Stock Acquisition Date to which it is a party,
that each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to receive, (x) at the
Company's option, either (A) in return for the Exercise Price, debt or equity
securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal
to twice the Exercise Price, or
(e) without payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by
applicable law), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof)having a fair value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of
Directors of the Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with
Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to the product of the Exercise Price of a
share of Common Stock on the Flip-In Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on
the Flip-In Date, where in any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value
of such debt or equity securities or other assets shall be as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with a
nationally recognized investment banking firm.
3.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-Over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a
supplemental agreement with the Flip-Over Entity, for the benefit of the holders
of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-Over
Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to
purchase from the Flip-Over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-Over Stock of the Flip-Over Entity
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of
such Flip-Over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Flip-Over Stock) and (ii) the Flip-Over Entity
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this Section
3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-Over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Date, unless the Rights will be terminated
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-Over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are
<PAGE> 14
any rights, warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements,
agreements or instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any
material respect the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement
to the holders of Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV: THE RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General. (a) 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 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, its directors,
officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent or such indemnified party,
for anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with
the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability. The indemnity provided in this Section
4.1(a) shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this
Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability
for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection
with its administration of this Agreement or the exercise or performance of its
duties hereunder in reliance upon any certificate for securities purchasable
upon exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities of
the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney,
endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate,
statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be
signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper
person or persons.
4.2 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 is a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services
business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will 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 4.4 hereof. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any
of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates have not 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 will have the full force provided in the
rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
<PAGE> 15
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is 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.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound: (a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal
counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of
such counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection to the
Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the
Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer
or any Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate will be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of any provision of this Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the
Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under any provision of this
Agreement or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment
or the ascertaining of the
<PAGE> 16
existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect
to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the certificate contemplated by
Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment); nor will it by any act hereunder be
deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or any Rights
or as to whether any securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights will, when
issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued and delivered and fully
paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such person, or for any delay in acting while awaiting
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 Agreement
and the date on 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 Business Days after the date any officer of the Company
actually receives 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
betaken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee
of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, 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 will 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 the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
<PAGE> 17
(j) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and obligations
imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be
read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(k) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no
event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential
loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost
profits).
(l) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the rights Agent upon 30 days notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company
fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after 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 any Rights (which
holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of any State of the United States, in good standing, which is
authorized under such laws to exercise the powers of the Rights Agent
contemplated by this Agreement and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as
Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an
affiliate of a corporation described in the immediately preceding clause (a).
After appointment, the successor Rights Agent will 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, actor deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock,
and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the Rights. Failure to
give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, 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.
<PAGE> 18
ARTICLE V: MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Termination. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-In Date, elect to
terminate the Rights without any payment to any holder thereof.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the
Company electing to terminate the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of
Directors electing to terminate the Rights states that the termination will not
be effective until the occurrence of a specified future time or event, upon the
occurrence of such future time or event), without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right will
thereafter be null and void.
(c) If at any time prior to the Expiration Date or Termination Date,
the Board of Directors as of the Record Date fails to comprise a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors, this Agreement shall become irrevocable and the
Board of Directors of the Company shall no longer have the right to terminate or
amend this Agreement.
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Date and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Date, except, if the Rights are exchanged, as
provided in Section 3.1 hereof.
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificate. 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 number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in
connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date pursuant to the
terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares of Common Stock or to
options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the
Separation Date, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common
Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided,
however, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued, if, and
to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance
would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the
Company or to the Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued,
(ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights
Certificates to any Acquiring Person or any transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may
time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-In Date, in any
respect, and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-In Date, to make any
changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or
in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be inconsistent
<PAGE> 19
with any other provisions herein or otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will
duly execute and deliver any supplement or amendment hereto requested by the
Company upon receipt of a certificate from the Company that such supplement or
amendment satisfies the terms of the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment
that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement
shall be effective without the consent of the Rights Agent.
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise of Rights, the Company shall, in
lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, either (a)
evidence such fractional shares by depository receipts issued pursuant to an
appropriate agreement between the Company and a depository selected by it,
providing that each holder of a depository receipt shall have all of the rights,
privileges and preferences to which such holder would be entitled as beneficial
owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares on behalf of the holders
of Rights and pay to the registered holder of such Rights the appropriate
fraction of price per share received upon such sale.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
rights, 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 such holder's Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
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, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations
under this Agreement of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as such, of
Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose
the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be issuable
on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights, as
such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in Section 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date (i) to effect or permit
occurrence of any Flip-Over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which
such Flip-Over Transaction
<PAGE> 20
or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place, and such
notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Amedisys, Inc.
11100 Mead Road, Suite 300
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70816
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights
Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Company) as follows:
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
40 Wall Street
46th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Isaac Kagan
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it
appears upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation
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.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company may
suspend the exercisability of the Rights for ninety (90) days and any additional
period that may be reasonable in order to take such action or comply with such
laws. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly
as practicable a public announcement stating that the exercisability or
exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof
pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required. Failure to give a notice pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action
taken hereunder.
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or
any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce
such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
<PAGE> 21
5.12 Successors. 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.
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority
to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right
and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations
(including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the
foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith, shall (x) be
final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of
the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of
the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT 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.
5.17 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.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than
those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
<PAGE> 22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
AMEDISYS, INC.
By: /s/ WILLIAM F. BORNE
----------------------------------------
William F. Borne, Chairman, CEO
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ HERBERT J. LEMMER
----------------------------------------
Name: HERBERT J. LEMMER
--------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
-------------------------------------
<PAGE> 23
EXHIBIT A
(Form of Rights Certificate)
Certificate No. W- Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO TERMINATION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION OF
THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT)
OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
AMEDISYS, INC.
This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is
the registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of
__________ __________ (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"),
between Amedisys, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term
shall include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to
purchase from the Company at any time after the Separation Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on
_________________, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of the
Rights Agreement, that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate
Market Price on the Stock Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for
an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that on or after such stock Acquisition Date an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock), upon presentation and surrender of
this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly executed at
the principal office of the Rights Agent.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase
securities of an entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the
Company other than Common Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
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 office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
<PAGE> 24
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 evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered.
If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered 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, each Right evidenced
by this Certificate may be (a) terminated by the Company under certain
circumstances, at its option, or (b) exchanged by the Company under certain
circumstances, at its option, for one share of Common Stock per Right (or, in
certain cases, other securities or assets of the Company), subject in each case
to adjustment in certain events 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 any
securities which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall
anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon
the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged 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 facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its
corporate seal.
Date:
ATTEST: AMEDISYS, INC.
By:
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Secretary William F. Borne, Chairman, CEO
Countersigned:
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as
Rights Agent
By:
----------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
<PAGE> 25
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
transfer this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: , .
----------------- ------
Signature Guaranteed:
------------------------------------------
Signature (Signature must correspond to name
as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without
alteration, enlargement or change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17 Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
------------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and
accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void
and nontransferable or exercisable.
<PAGE> 26
[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: Amedisys, Inc.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________ whole
Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
---------------------------------------------
Address:
-------------------------------------
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
-----------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be
registered in the name of and delivered to:
---------------------------------------------
Address:
-------------------------------------
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
-----------------------
Dated: , .
----------------- ------
Signature Guaranteed:
------------------------------------------
Signature (Signature must correspond to name
as written upon the face of this Rights
Certificate in every particular, without
alteration, enlargement or change
whatsoever)
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank,
stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an
approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17 Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 27
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
owned by an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement).
-------------------------------------
Signature
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person
(as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and
accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void
and not transferable or exercisable.
