SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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): Commission File Number:
October 22, 1998 1-12358
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Alabama 59-7007599
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification Number)
2101 Sixth Avenue North
Suite 750
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(205) 250-8700
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
Item 5 - Other Events
On October 22, 1998, the Board of Trustees of the Company authorized
and declared a distribution of one right (a "Right") for each of its outstanding
common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share ("Common
Shares"). The distribution is payable as of November 2, 1998 (the "Record Date")
to holders of record of the Common Shares on that date. Each Right entitles the
registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a
Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Share of Beneficial Interest, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company (each, a "Series 1998 Preferred Share") at
a price of $92.00 (the "Exercise Price"), subject to certain adjustments. The
description and terms of the Rights will be set forth in a Rights Agreement, as
the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), between the
Company and BankBoston, N.A., as rights agent (the "Rights Agent").
Initially the Rights will not be exercisable, certificates will not
be sent to shareholders, and the Rights will automatically trade with the Common
Shares.
The Rights, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Board of
Trustees, become exercisable upon the close of business on the day (the
"Distribution Date") which is the earlier of (i) the tenth day following a
public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person"), with certain exceptions set forth below, has acquired
beneficial ownership or voting control of 15% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares of the Company and (ii) the tenth business day (or such later date as may
be determined by the Board of Trustees prior to such time as any person or group
of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date
of the commencement or public announcement of a person's or group's intention to
commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in
the acquisition of beneficial ownership or voting control of 15% or more of the
Company's outstanding Common Shares (even if no Common Shares are actually
acquired pursuant to such offer); prior thereto, the Rights will not be
exercisable, will not be represented by a separate certificate, and will not be
transferable apart from the Common Shares, but will instead be evidenced, with
respect to any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record
Date, by such Common Share certificate itself. An Acquiring Person does not
include (A) the Company, (B) any subsidiary of the Company, (C) any employee
benefit plan or employee stock plan of the Company or of any subsidiary of the
Company, or any trust or other entity organized, appointed, established or
holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (D) any
person or group of affiliated or associated persons whose beneficial ownership
or voting control of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company
results solely from a reduction in the number of outstanding Common Shares of
the Company pursuant to a transaction or transactions approved by the Board of
Trustees (provided that any such person or group that does not become an
Acquiring Person by reason of the exception provided by this clause D shall
become an Acquiring Person upon acquisition of any additional outstanding Common
Shares unless such acquisition of additional Common Shares will not result in
such person or group becoming an Acquiring Person), or (E) any "Excluded Holder"
as such term is defined in the Company's declaration of trust, as amended (the
"Declaration of Trust").
Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or
expiration of the Rights), new certificates for Common Shares issued after the
Record Date will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption, exchange or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any Common Shares
outstanding as of the Record Date also will constitute the transfer of the
Rights attaching to such Common Shares. As soon as practicable following the
Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right
Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of
the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate Rights
Certificates alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution
Date.
The Rights will expire at the close of business on November 1, 2008
(the "Final Expiration Date"), unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the
Company as described below.
The number of one ten-thousandths of a Series 1998 Preferred Share
issuable upon exercise of the Rights is subject to certain adjustments from time
to time in the event of a share distribution on, or a subdivision or combination
of, the Common Shares. The Exercise Price for the Rights is subject to
adjustment in certain events.
Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged, in the event
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring
Person, the Rights Agreement provides that each holder of record of a Right,
other than the Acquiring Person (whose Rights will thereupon become null and
void), will thereafter have the right to receive, upon payment of the Exercise
Price, that number of Common Shares having a market value at the time of the
transaction equal to two times the Exercise Price.
In addition, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged, in
the event that after the time that a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person the Company were to be acquired in a merger
or other business combination (in which any Shares are changed into or exchanged
for other securities or assets) or more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) were to be sold or
transferred in one or a series of related transactions, the Rights Agreement
provides that proper provision will be made so that each holder of record of a
Right, other than the Acquiring Person (whose rights will thereupon become null
and void), will from and after such date have the right to receive, upon payment
of the Exercise Price, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring
company having a market value at the time of such transaction equal to two times
the Exercise Price.
The Rights Agreement provides that, notwithstanding any provision of
the Rights Agreement to the contrary, no Right will be exercisable for a number
of Common Shares that would cause the ownership limit set forth in the
Declaration of Trust (or any successor document) to be exceeded.
At any time after any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Trustees may issue Common
Shares in exchange for the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring
Person which will have become null and void), in whole or part, at an exchange
ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Rights Agreement provides that the Company may pay cash in lieu
of issuing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of the Rights.
At any time on or prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business
on the tenth day after a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (or such later
date as may be authorized by the Board of Trustees), or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.005 per Right ("Redemption Price"), payable at the election of the
Company in cash, Common Shares or other consideration determined to be
appropriate by the Board of Trustees. Following the effective time of the action
of the Board of Trustees authorizing redemption of the Rights, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of the
Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
For as long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may,
except with respect to the Redemption Price or date of expiration of the Rights,
amend the Rights in any manner, including an amendment to extend the time period
in which the Rights may be redeemed. At any time when the Rights are not then
redeemable, the Company may amend the Rights in any manner that does not
materially adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights as such.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder, as such, will have no rights
as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive distributions.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
that attempts to acquire the Company on terms not approved by the Board of
Trustees. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by the Board of Trustees since the Rights may be redeemed
by the Company at $.005 per Right at any time until the close of business on the
tenth day (or such later date as described above) after a person or group has
obtained beneficial ownership or voting control of 15% or more of the voting
shares.
The form of Rights Agreement between the Company and BankBoston,
N.A., as Rights Agent, specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes as
Exhibit B the form of Summary of Rights to Purchase Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest and as Exhibit C the form
of Rights Certificate, is attached hereto as an exhibit and incorporated herein
by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified by reference
to such exhibit.
<PAGE>
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
99.1. Form of Rights Agreement between Colonial Properties Trust and
BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent. The Rights Agreement
includes as Exhibit B the form of Summary of Rights to
Purchase Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares of
Beneficial Interest and as Exhibit C the form of Rights
Certificate.
99.2. Form of Letter to Shareholders.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Thomas H. Lowder
Name: Thomas H. Lowder
Title: Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
October 26, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Form of Rights Agreement between Colonial Properties Trust and
BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent. The Rights Agreement
includes as Exhibit B the form of Summary of Rights to
Purchase Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares of
Beneficial Interest and as Exhibit C the form of Rights
Certificate.
99.2 Form of Letter to Shareholders.
<PAGE>
Correspondence
<PAGE>
HOGAN & HARTSON
L.L.P.
Columbia Square
555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
WASHINGTON, DC 20004-1109
TEL (202) 637-5600
FAX (202) 637-5910
October 26, 1998
BY EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Colonial Properties Trust
SEC File No. 1-12358
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of Colonial Properties Trust (the "Company"), and in
electronic format pursuant to Regulation S-T, we enclose for filing with the
Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K. All required signatures have been
obtained and will be retained by the Company for five years.
If you have any questions or comments with respect to the foregoing,
please telephone me at (202) 637-5737.
Sincerely,
/s/ Alan L. Dye
Alan L. Dye
Enclosures
cc: Howard B. Nelson, Jr.
Exhibit 99.1
Form of Rights Agreement
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1998 (the "Agreement"),
between Colonial Properties Trust, an Alabama real estate investment trust (the
"Company"), and BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association (the "Rights
Agent").
WHEREAS, on October 22, 1998 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Trustees of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
of one Right for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company
outstanding at the Close of Business (as defined herein) on the Record Date (as
defined herein), and has authorized the issuance of one Right with respect to
each Common Share of the Company issued between the Record Date (whether
originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and the Distribution
Date (as hereinafter defined), each Right initially representing the right to
purchase one ten-thousandth of a Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Share of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the
form of Articles Supplementary to the Company's Declaration of Trust, as amended
(the "Declaration of Trust"), relating to the Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the
meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and
Associates (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person,
shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined)
of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not
include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii)
any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company, (iv) any Person or entity holding Common Shares for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan to the extent, and only to the
extent, of such shares so held, or (v) any "Excluded Holder" as such
term is defined in the Declaration of Trust. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result
of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing
the number of Common Shares outstanding, increases the proportionate
number of Common Shares beneficially owned by such Person to 15% or
more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided,
however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason
of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share
purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be
deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" if such Person is then the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Trustees
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 paragraph (a), has become such
inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a
sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no
longer be an "Acquiring Person," then such Person shall not be deemed
an "Acquiring Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and
until such Person shall again become an "Acquiring Person."
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
(c) "Agreement" shall mean this Rights Agreement as originally
executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended
pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.
(d) 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, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire
(whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise
of conversion rights, exchange rights, other rights (other than
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own", (A) securities tendered
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or
exchange; or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at
any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C)
securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates
prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to
Section 11(i) hereof in connection with an adjustment made with
respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or
dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to beneficially own, any security
under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such
agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from
a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with,
the applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by
such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate
thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable
proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this
paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c)
shall cause a person engaged in business as an underwriter of
securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially
own," any securities acquired through such person's
participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting
until the expiration of forty days after the date of such
acquisition.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of any Common Shares as a result of such Person's
Beneficial Ownership of units of limited partnership interest of
Colonial Realty Limited Partnership.
(e) "Board" shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Company.
(f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Alabama or
Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or executive order
to close.
(g) "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.
(h) "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall
mean the common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company. "Common Shares" or "Common Stock" when used
with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
class of capital stock with the greatest aggregate voting power, or
the class of equity securities or other equity interests having power
to control or direct the management, of such Person.
(i) "Company" shall mean Colonial Properties Trust, an Alabama real
estate investment trust.
(j) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of
Business on the tenth day after the Share Acquisition Date (or, if
the tenth day after the Share Acquisition Date occurs before the
Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or (ii) the
Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or, if such tenth
Business Day occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on
the Record Date), or such specified or unspecified later date on or
after the Record Date as may be determined by action of the Board of
Trustees prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company or any Person or entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan or any Excluded Holder) is first
published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon
consummation thereof, such Person would be the beneficial owner of
15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares.
(k) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(l) "Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a)
hereof.
(m) "Excluded Holder" shall have the same meaning as set forth in
the Declaration of Trust.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7(a) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(p) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity, and shall include any successor (by
merger or otherwise) of such entity.
(q) "Preferred Shares" shall mean the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01
per share, of the Company.
(r) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
13(b) hereof.
(s) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4(a) and 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(t) "Record Date" shall mean the close of business on November 2,
1998.
(u) "Redemption Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
23(a) hereof.
(v) "Rights Agent" shall mean BankBoston, N.A.
(w) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3 hereof.
(x) "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall mean the close of
business on October 22, 1998.
(y) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(z) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (x),
(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(aa) "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(bb) "Share 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.
(cc) "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 interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person, or is otherwise controlled by such Person.
(dd) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or any Section 13 Event.
(ee) "Trustee" shall mean a member of the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the
Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof,
shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Shares)
in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby
accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such
Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days' prior
notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise,
and in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights
Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date, the
Company will send or deliver a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Summary of
Rights"), to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on
the Record Date at the address of such holder shown on the records of the
Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the
Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such
certificates for the Common Shares and the registered holders of the Common
Shares shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date or Final Expiration Date), the
transfer of any certificate representing Common Shares in respect of which
Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(b) Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares issued
(whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after the Record Date
but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or the
Final Expiration Date. Rights shall also be issued to the extent provided in
Section 22 in respect of all Common Shares which are issued (whether originally
issued or from the Company's treasury) after the Distribution Date and prior to
the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be
deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend (in
addition to any other legends that may be required):
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Colonial
Properties Trust (the "Company") and BankBoston, N.A. (the "Rights
Agent") dated as of November 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 the
Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and
will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will
mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement
as in effect on the date of mailing without charge after receipt of a
written request therefor.
Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring
Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on
behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null
and void. The Rights shall not be exercisable, and shall be void so
long as held, by a holder in any jurisdiction where the requisite
qualification of the issuance to such holder, or the exercise by such
holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not have been
obtained or be obtainable.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Shares
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented thereby.
(c) Until the Distribution Date (i) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof
(which certificates for Common Shares shall also be deemed to be Rights
Certificates) and not by separate Rights Certificates, and (ii) the Rights will
be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying Common
Shares (including a transfer to the Company).
(d) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights
Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record
holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at
the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights
Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, evidencing one Right
for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the
event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made
pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights
Certificates, the Company shall make necessary and appropriate rounding
adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights
Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash
is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially
the same as Exhibit C hereto and may have such marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the
Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with
any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of
any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof,
the Rights Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record Date,
and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of
one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the
price set forth therein (such exercise price per one ten-thousandth of a share,
the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon
exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(d) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person; (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such; or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which a majority of the Trustees has determined is part
of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect
avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to
Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or
adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall
contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights
Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and
void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Rights
Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer or
any Executive or Senior Vice President either manually or by facsimile
signature, and have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof
which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates
shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution
Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of the Expiration
Date or Final Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be
transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or following a Triggering Event, Common
Shares, other securities, cash, or other assets, as the case may be) as the
Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or
former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder
desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate shall
make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender
the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Neither the Rights Agent
nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to
the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered
holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have
provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or
former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company
shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section
4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person
entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or 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 execute and deliver a new
Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and
delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed, or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 7(g) hereof, the registered holder
of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the
Purchase Price for each one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are
exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on November
1, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are
redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof, (iii) the time at which such Rights
are exchanged (the "Exchange Date") as provided in Section 24 hereof, or (iv)
the time at which the Rights expire pursuant to Section 13(d) hereof (the
earliest of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) Each Right shall entitle the registered holder thereof to
purchase one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share, and the Purchase Price for
each one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right
shall initially be $92.00, and 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 and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share (or Common Shares, other
securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased and an
amount equal to any applicable transfer tax in cash, or by certified check,
cashier's check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company, the Rights
Agent shall, subject to Section 18(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A)
requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available,
if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent) certificates for the total number of
one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 Preferred
Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent,
requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such
number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in
which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company will direct the depositary to comply with such request, (ii) requisition
from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of issuance of
fractional shares in accordance with Section 14, (iii) promptly after receipt of
such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) after receipt
thereof, promptly deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Shares) of the Company,
pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such securities, cash
and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and
when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an
Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person
becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such
Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with
the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either
(A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to
holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom
such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding
regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which a majority of the
Trustees has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which
has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall
become null and void without any further action, and no holder of such Rights
shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether 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 other Person as a result of its failure to make any
determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates
or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
(g) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in
the event that Rights become exercisable for Common Shares, no right shall be
exercisable by the holder thereof for a number of Common Shares in excess of the
maximum number of Common Shares that could be acquired by the holder of such
Right without violating any provision of Article VI of the Declaration of Trust
(or any successor provision or document) relating to limitations on the
ownership of Common Shares. Any Common Shares purportedly acquired upon exercise
of a Right shall, to the extent that such acquisition violates any provision of
Article VI of the Declaration of Trust (or any successor provision or document),
be deemed Excess Shares (as that term is defined in the Declaration of Trust or
any successor document), and the Person exercising such Right shall be subject
to all of the remedies and other provisions of such Article VI (or any successor
provision or document) governing Excess Shares. Nothing herein shall be deemed
to limit the application of the Declaration of Trust or the authority of the
Board of Trustees thereunder.
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
canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it,
and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any 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 canceled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such canceled Rights Certificates, and in such
case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Shares of Beneficial Interest.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares
(and following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and
unissued Common Shares and/or other securities or out of its authorized and
issued shares held in its treasury), the number of Preferred Shares (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other
securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding
Rights.
(b) In the event the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence
of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the
exercise of Rights become listed on any national securities exchange, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on
such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with this Agreement, 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 Common
Shares or other 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. The Company
may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days
after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section
9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such
registration statement and permit it to become effective. In addition, if the
Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the
Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the
Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared effective.
Upon any suspension of exercisability of Rights referred to in this Section
9(c), the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable and shall be void so long as held by a holder in any
jurisdiction where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such holder,
or the exercise by such holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not
have been obtained or be obtainable, or the exercise thereof shall not be
permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have been
declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all one ten-thousandths of a Preferred
Share (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or
other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of
delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase
Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and
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 certificates for a number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share
(or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise
of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax
which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights
Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates
for a number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or Common Shares
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of, the
registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for
exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or Common Shares and/or other securities,
as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the
exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax
being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender)
or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax
is due.
Section 10. Preferred Share Record Date.
Each person in whose name any certificate for a number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share (or Common Shares and/or other securities,
as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of such fractional Preferred
Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be)
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided,
however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the
Preferred Share (or Common Share and/or other securities as the case may be)
transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have
become the record holder of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the
Preferred Share (or Common Share and/or other securities as the case may be)
transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights
evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to
any rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the
Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote,
to receive distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be
entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as
provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights.
The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a distribution on the Preferred Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine
the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue
any other shares of beneficial interest in the Company in a reclassification of
the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
entity), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e)
hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
distribution or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of Preferred Shares or the number and
kind of shares of beneficial interest in the Company issuable on such date, as
the case may be, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any
Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of
the aggregate adjusted Purchase Price then in effect necessary to exercise a
Right in full, the aggregate number and kind of Preferred Shares or the number
and kind of shares of beneficial interest in the Company, as the case may be,
which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a
time when the Preferred Share (or Common Share and/or other securities, as the
case may be) transfer books of the Company were open, he would have owned upon
such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such distribution,
subdivision, combination, or reclassification. If an event occurs which would
require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to Sections 23 and 24 of this Agreement, in the
event that any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan or any Excluded Holder), alone or
together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing
such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a transaction set forth in Section
13(a) hereof, or is an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a cash tender
offer made pursuant to Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act for all outstanding
Common Shares (other than Common Shares beneficially owned by the Person making
the offer or by its Affiliates or Associates) at a price and on terms determined
by at least two-thirds of the Trustees, after receiving advice from one or more
investment banking firms, to be (a) a price which is fair to shareholders
(taking into account all factors which such members of the Board deem relevant
including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the
Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum
value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders, proper provision shall be made so that promptly following the
Redemption Period (as defined in Section 23(a)), each holder of a Right (except
as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise thereof and payment of an amount equal to the then
current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu
of a number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common
Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the
then current Purchase Price by the then number of one ten-thousandths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was or would have been exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, whether or not such
Right was then exercisable, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such
first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for
each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement except to the extent set forth
in Section 13 hereof) by 50% of the current market price per Common Share
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of such first
occurrence (such number of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a Common
Share issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) such number or fractions of Preferred Shares having an
aggregate market value equal to the current per share market price of a Common
Share. In the event that the number of Common Shares which is authorized by the
Declaration of Trust but not outstanding, or reserved for issuance for purposes
other than upon exercise of the Rights, is not sufficient to permit the exercise
in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the
Board shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by material
agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, (A) determine the
excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a
Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the
"Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof),
make adequate provision to substitute for some or all of the Adjustment Shares,
upon exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash,
(2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Shares or other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, Preferred Shares or
units of Preferred Shares which the Board has deemed to have the same value as
Common Shares) (such shares of beneficial interest being herein called "common
share equivalents"), (4) debt securities of the Company, (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 based
upon the advice of an investment banking firm selected by the Board; 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)
the first 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)(ii) 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, Common Shares
(to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which Common Shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.
If, upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Board
shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional
Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the
Rights, then if the Board so elects, the thirty (30) day period set forth above
may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days
after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek
shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such
period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that
action is to be taken pursuant to the preceding provisions of this Section
11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that
such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend
the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period
in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the
appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the first sentence of
this Section 11(a)(iii) and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Shares shall be the current
market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share
on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common share
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as a Common Share on such
date. The Board may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to
allocate the right to receive Common Shares upon the exercise of the Rights
among holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them
(for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares") or securities convertible into Preferred Shares at a price
per Preferred Share or per "equivalent preferred share" (or having a conversion
price per Preferred Share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares) less
than the current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in
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 of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date, plus
the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total
number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent Preferred Shares so to be offered
(and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so
to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator
of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent Preferred
Shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible
securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be
in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all
purposes. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall
not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution
to all holders of Preferred Shares (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
or surviving entity) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular
quarterly cash distribution out of the earnings of the Company), assets (other
than a distribution payable in Preferred Shares, but including any distribution
payable in shares of beneficial interest other than Preferred Shares), or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)),
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current per share market
price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date,
less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes) of the portion of the cash, assets or
evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or
warrants applicable to a Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be
such current per share market price of the Preferred Shares. Such adjustment
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
market price" of the Common Shares on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Shares for the 30
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior
to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section
11(a)(iii) hereof, the "current market price" per Common Share on any date shall
be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per Common Share for the
ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided,
however, that in the event that the current market price of the Common Shares is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Shares of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Common Shares payable in
such Common Shares or securities convertible into such Common Shares (other than
the Rights), or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Common Shares, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading
Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth above, after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the "current
market price" shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account ex-dividend
trading. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular
way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common
Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Common Shares are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Shares are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("Nasdaq") or such other
system then in use, or, if on any such date the Common Shares are not quoted by
any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Shares
selected by the Board. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in
the Common Shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day
on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Shares
are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business, or,
if the Common Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the term "Trading Day" shall mean a Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in the State of New
York are not authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. If the
Common Shares are not publicly held or not listed or traded, "current market
price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the
Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
"current market price" per Preferred Share shall be determined in the same
manner as set forth above for the Common Shares in clause (i) of this Section
11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market price per
Preferred Share cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the
Preferred Shares are not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described
in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market price" per Preferred
Share shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 10,000 (as such
number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as share splits, share
distributions and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Shares occurring
after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price per
Common Share. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly
held or so listed or traded, "current market price" per Preferred Share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
"current market price" of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share shall be equal
to the "current market price" of one Preferred Share divided by 10,000.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in such price; provided,
however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not
required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to
the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share or other
share or one-millionth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding
the first sentence of this Section 11(e), an 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) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of beneficial interest in the
Company other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares
so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly
equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares
contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and
the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the
Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one ten-thousandths of a
Preferred Share 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 one ten-thousandths of
a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by (i)
multiplying (x) the number of one ten-thousandths of a share covered by a Right
immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the
product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one ten-thousandths of a
Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a
public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating
the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the
adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase
Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have
been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public
announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of
the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as
promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights
Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to
Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to
be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the
Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option
of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the
names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one ten-thousandth of a
share and the number of one ten-thousandths of a share 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, if any, of the number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the
Company shall take any trust action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be
necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
non-assessable such number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share at such
adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
the number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share and other shares of
beneficial interest or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share
and other shares of beneficial interest or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior
to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such
holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right
to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring
such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in
order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market
price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by
their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv)
share distributions or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to
hereinabove in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the
Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other
instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after
such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the Person who
constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section
13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by
such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 hereof, take
(or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is
taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially
or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a distribution
on the outstanding Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the
outstanding Common Shares, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a
smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each Common Share
then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the
Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of
Rights thereafter associated with each Common Share following any such event
shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated
with each Common Share immediately prior to such event by a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately following the
occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13
hereof, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares and the Common Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to
the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing Common
Shares) in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully
protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment unless and
until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power.
(a) Subject to Section 23 of this Agreement, in the event that,
following the Share Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company
in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate
with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger and, in
connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding
Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities
of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell
or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or
otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons
(other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in
each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided
in Section 7(e) hereof, shall, upon the expiration of the Redemption Period (as
defined in Section 23(a)), thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and freely tradable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as such
term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of
first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained
by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section
13 Event, multiplying the number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to
such first occurrence), and (2) dividing that product (which product, following
the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the
"Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50%
of the current market price per Common Share of such Principal Party on the date
of consummation of such Section 13 Event (or the fair market value on such date
or other securities or property of the Principal Party, as provided for herein);
(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 thereafter be deemed
to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the
provisions of Section 11 hereof (other than Sections 11(a)(ii) and 11(a)(iii))
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 Common Shares in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as
reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon
the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) and
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence
of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are
converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no securities are
so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger or
consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions; provided,
however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of such
Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the
preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of
another Person the Common Shares of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and
(2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of
more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which are
and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to
whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having
the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the
Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares 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, as soon as
practicable after the date of any such Section 13 Event, the Principal Party
will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and
will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A)
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B)
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date;
(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;
(iii) use its best efforts to obtain any necessary regulatory
approvals in respect of the securities purchasable upon exercise of
outstanding Rights; and
(iv) use its best efforts, if such Common Shares of the
Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to
list or admit to trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and
the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on the New
York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if the
securities of the Principal Party purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights shall not be listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the Rights
and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights to be
reported by such other system then in use.
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) hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons (or a wholly owned subsidiary of any such Person or Persons)
who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a cash tender offer for all outstanding
Common Shares which complies with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof,
(ii) the price per Common Share offered in such transaction is not less than the
price per Common Share paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were
purchased pursuant to such cash tender offer and (iii) the form of consideration
being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such cash
tender offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this
Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of the 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, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
high bid and low asked prices, in either case as reported by the New York Stock
Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board.
If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights the
fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
shall be used. In the event the Rights are listed or admitted to trading on a
national securities exchange, 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 high bid and low asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to the national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted
to trading.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples
of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share, the Company may pay to the
registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised,
as herein provided, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current
market value of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share. For purposes of this
Section 14(b), the current market value of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred
Share shall be one ten-thousandth of the closing price of a Preferred Share (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of one of the events specified in
Section 11 giving rise to the right to receive Common Shares, common share
equivalents or other securities upon the exercise of a Right, the Company shall
not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares, common share equivalents or
other securities upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional Common Shares, common share equivalents or other securities.
In lieu of fractional Common Shares, common share equivalents or other
securities, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates
at the time such Rights are exercised, as herein provided, an amount in cash
equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one (1) Common Share,
common share equivalents or other securities. For purposes of this Section
14(c), the current market value of one Common Share shall be the closing price
of one Common Share (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly
waives the right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon
exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action.
All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, except the rights
of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant to Section 18 and Section 20
hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior
to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of
the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of, the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.
Every holder of a Right by accepting the same consents and agrees
with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right
that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate form of assignment and
the certificate contained therein duly completed and executed;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company and
the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated certificate for
Common Shares) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated certificate for Common Shares made by
anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be 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 government 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 Shareholder.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to
vote, receive distributions or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the
Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the
holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of
the Company or any right to vote for the election of trustees or upon any matter
submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent
to any trust action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive
distributions 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. 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 shall
be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any
action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice
or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of "current market price") be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be any one of the President, Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Investment Officer, any Executive or Senior Vice
President, 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 or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
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 as to 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 is serving as an administrative agent and shall
not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of any provision of
this Agreement or the execution and delivery of this Agreement (except the due
execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution
of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be
responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained
in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming
void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof) or any adjustment required under any of
the provisions hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any
such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require
any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by
Rights Certificates after actual notice of such adjustment); nor shall it by any
act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any Common Shares or Preferred Shares to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any
Common Shares or Preferred Shares will, when so issued, be validly authorized
and issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(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 any one of the President, the Chief
Financial Officer, the Chief Investment Officer, any Executive or Senior Vice
President, or the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable
for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent,
set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent under this Rights 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
instruction 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, however, the Rights Agent was not grossly
negligent in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to
expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if
there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(l) 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.
Section 19. Compensation and Indemnification of the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its officers, employees, agents and
directors 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, for any action taken, or omitted by the Rights
Agent or such other indemnified party in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement and the exercise of its duties hereunder,
including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in
the premises. The indemnity provided for hereunder 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 of its duties
hereunder in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common
Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or
transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction,
consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper person or persons.
(c) 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), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such
loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action unless such loss or
damage results from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the
Rights Agent.
Section 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be eligible for
appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21
hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at any 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 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 Shares
and the Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of
the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing,
mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to
each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.
If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty
(30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in
writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated
Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such
notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then 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 the State of Massachusetts or New York (or of any other state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in the State of Massachusetts or New York), in good standing, having
a principal office in the State of Massachusetts or New York which is authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust power 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
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 Shares
and the Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the
Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights
Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price per share and the number
or kind of 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 Common Shares following the
Distribution Date (other than upon exercise of a Right) and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or
under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any
other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights
Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with
such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate
would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate 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.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time during the period
commencing on the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and ending on the earlier of
(i) the Close of Business on the tenth day following the Share Acquisition Date
(or, if the Share Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date,
the Close of Business on the tenth day following the Record Date), as such
period may be extended or shortened in the discretion of the Board of Trustees
(the "Redemption Period") or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, cause the Company
to redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption
price of $.005 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to
reflect any share split, share distribution or similar transaction occurring
after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as
the "Redemption Price"); provided, however, that, if the Board authorizes
redemption of the Rights or a change in the Redemption Period on or after the
time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then such authorization shall require
the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the Trustees. If, following the
occurrence of a Share Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the
Company's right of redemption hereunder (i) a Person who is an Acquiring Person
shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of Common Shares in one
transaction or series of transactions, not directly or indirectly involving the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which did not result in the occurrence of a
Triggering Event such that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of 10%
or less of the outstanding Common Shares, (ii) there are no other Persons,
immediately following the occurrence of the event described in clause (i), who
are Acquiring Persons, and (iii) the Board, by a vote of at least two-thirds of
the Trustees, shall so approve, then the Company's right of redemption shall be
reinstated and thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event
or a Section 13 Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption
hereunder has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price
in cash, Common Shares (based on the current market price of the Common Shares
at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the redemption
of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the
Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Promptly after the action of the Board
ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by
mailing such notice to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date,
on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Shares. Any notice
which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state
the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) or Section 7(e) hereof) for
Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately
adjusted to reflect any share split, share distribution or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred
to as the "Exchange Ratio").
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board 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 Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by
such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give
public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give,
or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange.
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
Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) or
Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common
Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In
lieu of such fractional shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders
of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares would
otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this paragraph
(d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price
of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section
11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange
pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date (i) to pay any distribution payable in shares of beneficial
interest of any class to the holders of Preferred Shares or to make any other
distribution to the holders of Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly
cash distribution out of earnings) or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional
Preferred Shares or shares of beneficial interest of any class or any other
securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger
into or with, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more
of its subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more
transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and
its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, or (v) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent
feasible and in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed
action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such share
distribution, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed,
and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause
(i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action and in
the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date
of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by
the holders of the Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur, then, in any
such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event which shall specify
the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section
11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to
Preferred Shares shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Shares and/or, if
appropriate, other securities.
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:
Colonial Properties Trust
2101 Sixth Avenue North
Suite 750
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Facsimile No.: (205) 250-8890
Attention: Thomas H. Lowder
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
J. Warren Gorrell, Jr.
Alan L. Dye
Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
555 - Thirteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004-1109
Facsimile No.: (202) 637-5910
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made
if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
BankBoston, N.A.
c/o Boston EquiServe Limited Partnership
150 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02021
Facsimile No.: (781) 575-4025
Attention: Client Administration
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 any 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 and subject to the penultimate
sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the
Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without
the approval of any holders of certificates representing Common Shares. From and
after the Distribution Date and subject to the penultimate sentence of this
Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall at any time and from
time to time, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure
any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein
which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii)
to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to change or supplement
the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of
Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
of any such Person); provided, however, that this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended (A) to lengthen a time period relating to when the
Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or
(B) to lengthen any other time period unless such lengthening is for the purpose
of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to,
the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person). Upon the delivery of a certificate from an
appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or
amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent
shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment shall be made
which changes the Redemption Price, the Final Expiration Date, the number of one
ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is exercisable or the
Purchase Price, provided, however, that at any time prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company may amend this Agreement to increase the Purchase Price. Prior
to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed
coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.
Section 28. Successors.
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the
benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit
of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of
Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which
any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in
the administration of this Agreement, including, 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 without limitation a determination to redeem or not redeem
the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject any trustee to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person
other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders
of the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates
(and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of Common Shares).
Section 31. Severability.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, 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
invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith
judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would materially
and adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of
redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not
expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such
determination by the Board.
Section 32. Governing Law.
This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of
Alabama and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with laws of such State.
Section 33. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. It
shall not be necessary that the signature of or on behalf of each party appears
on each counterpart, but it shall be sufficient that the signature of or on
behalf of each party appears on one or more of the counterparts. All
counterparts shall collectively constitute a single agreement. It shall not be
necessary in any proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than a
number of counterparts containing the respective signatures of or on behalf of
all of the parties.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.
Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any of the provisions hereof.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights
Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
Attest:
By By
Howard B. Nelson, Jr. Thomas H. Lowder
Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board, President and
Secretary Chief Executive Officer
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
Attest:
By By
<PAGE>
- i -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Certain Definitions..................................2
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent..........................6
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.........................7
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates..........................8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration....................9
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights
Certificates...............................................10
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights. 10
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..13
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Shares of Beneficial Interest.13
Section 10. Preferred Share Record Date.........................14
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of
Shares or Number of Rights.................................15
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......................................................23
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.............25
Section 15. Rights of Action....................................27
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders.........................27
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder..28
Section 18. Duties of Rights Agent..............................28
Section 19. Compensation and Indemnification of the Rights Agent.30
Section 20. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. 31
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent..............................32
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates.................32
Section 23. Redemption..........................................33
Section 24. Exchange............................................34
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events............................35
Section 26. Notices.............................................36
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments..........................37
Section 28. Successors..........................................37
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board, etc........37
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement..........................38
Section 31. Severability........................................38
Section 32. Governing Law.......................................38
Section 33. Counterparts........................................38
Section 34. Descriptive Headings................................39
<PAGE>
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
and
BANKBOSTON, N.A.
as Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 2, 1998
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY OF
SERIES 1998 JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED SHARES
OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST OF
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
Pursuant to Sections 10-13-7 of the
Code of Alabama 1975
Colonial Properties Trust, an Alabama real estate investment trust
(the "Company"), hereby certifies that on October 22, 1998, pursuant to
authority conferred by Sections 3.2(e) and 6.3 of the Declaration of Trust of
the Company, as amended to the date hereof and as the same may be amended
hereafter from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust"), and in accordance with
Section 10-13-7 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the Board of Trustees duly
classified unissued preferred shares of beneficial interest ("Preferred Shares")
of the Company, and the description of such Preferred Shares, including the
designation and amount thereof and the voting rights or powers, preferences and
relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such
series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as set by
the Board of Trustees, are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series of
Preferred Shares, par value $.01 per share, shall be designated as "Series 1998
Junior Participating Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest" (the "Series 1998
Junior Participating Preferred Shares"), and the number of shares constituting
such series shall be 6,500. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased
by resolution of the Board of Trustees; provided, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares 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 Company
convertible into Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares.
Section 2. Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Shares ranking prior and superior to the
Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares with respect to distributions,
the holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Trustees out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly distributions payable in cash
on the 15th day of November, February, May and August in each year (each such
date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Distribution Payment Date"),
commencing on the first Quarterly Distribution Payment Date after first issuance
of a share or fraction of a share of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Shares, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the
greater of (a) $100.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
distributions, and 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind)
of all non-cash distributions or other distributions, other than a distribution
payable in common shares of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company (the "Common Shares"), or a subdivision of the outstanding Common
Shares (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Shares, since
the immediately preceding Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, or, with respect
to the first Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, since the first issuance of
any share or fraction of a share of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Shares. In the event the Company shall at any time after October 22, 1998 (the
"Rights Dividend Declaration Date") (i) declare or pay any distribution on
Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common
Shares, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of
shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares 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 Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Company shall declare a distribution on the Series 1998
Junior Participating Preferred Shares as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a distribution on the Common Shares (other than a
distribution payable in Common Shares); provided that, in the event no
distribution shall have been declared on the Common Shares during the period
between any Quarterly Distribution Payment Date and the next subsequent
Quarterly Distribution Payment Date, a distribution of $100.00 per share on the
Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares shall nevertheless be payable
on such subsequent Quarterly Distribution Payment Date.
(C) Distributions shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares from the Quarterly
Distribution Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such Series 1998
Junior Participating Preferred Shares, unless the date of issue of such shares
is prior to the record date set for the first Quarterly Distribution Payment
Date, in which case distributions on such shares shall begin to accrue from the
date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly
Distribution Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares
entitled to receive a quarterly distribution and before such Quarterly
Distribution Payment Date, in either of which events such distributions shall
begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Distribution Payment Date.
Accrued but unpaid distributions shall not bear interest. Distributions paid on
the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares in an amount less than the
total amount of such distributions 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 Trustees may fix a record date for
the determination of holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Shares entitled to receive payment of a distribution declared thereon, which
record date shall be no more than 50 days prior to the date fixed for the
payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Share shall entitle the holder
thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of
the Company. In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any distribution on Common Shares payable
in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, or (iii) combine
the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of shares, then in each such
case the number of votes per share to which holders of Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares 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 Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided by law or in any other Articles
Supplementary of the Company creating a series of Preferred Shares, whether now
existing or hereafter created, the holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares and the holders of Common Shares shall vote together as one
class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Company.
(C) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares 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 Shares as set forth herein) for taking any trust action.
<PAGE>
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever distributions payable on the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares as provided in Section 2 are not paid, thereafter
and until such distributions, whether or not declared, on Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Company shall not:
(i) declare or pay distributions on, or make any other
distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of beneficial interest ranking junior (either as to distributions or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares; or
(ii) declare or pay distributions on, or make any other
distributions on, any shares of beneficial interest ranking on a parity (either
as to distributions or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares, except distributions paid
ratably on the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares and all such
parity shares of beneficial interest on which distributions are payable in
proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then
entitled; or
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of beneficial interest ranking on a parity (either as to distributions or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares, provided that the Company may at any time
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any such parity shares of beneficial
interest in exchange for any shares of beneficial interest of the Company
ranking junior (either as to distributions or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares, or any shares of
beneficial interest ranking on a parity with the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares, except in accordance with a purchase offer made
in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Trustees) to all
holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Trustees, after
consideration of the respective annual distribution rates and other relative
rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in
good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective
series or classes.
(B) The Company shall not permit any subsidiary of the Company to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of beneficial
interest of the Company unless the Company 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 Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof.
All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued
shares of Preferred Shares and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Shares to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Trustees, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or
winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to the holders of
shares of beneficial interest ranking junior (either as to distributions or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares shall have received $920,000 per share, plus any
unpaid distributions payable thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of
such payment (the "Series 1998 Liquidation Preference"). Following the payment
of the full amount of the Series 1998 Liquidation Preference, no additional
distributions shall be made to the holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares unless, prior thereto, the holders of Common Shares shall have
received an amount per share (the "Common Adjustment") equal to the quotient
obtained by dividing (i) the Series 1998 Liquidation Preference by (ii) 10,000
(as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect
such events as share splits, share distributions and recapitalizations with
respect to the Common Shares) (such number in clause (ii) immediately above
being referred to as the "Adjustment Number"). Following the payment of the full
amount of the Series 1998 Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in
respect of all outstanding Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares and
Common Shares, respectively, holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares and holders of Common Shares shall receive their ratable and
proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of
the Adjustment Number to one (1) with respect to such Preferred Shares and
Common Shares, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series 1998 Liquidation Preference
and the liquidation preferences of all other series of Preferred Shares, if any,
which rank on a parity with the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Shares, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders
of such parity shares of beneficial interest in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there are 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 Shares.
(C) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any distribution on Common Shares payable
in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, or (iii) combine
the outstanding Common Shares 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 Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event
and the denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Company shall
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the Common Shares are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities,
cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 10,000 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 Common Share is changed or exchanged. In the
event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date
(i) declare any distribution on Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Shares into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set
forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of Series
1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. Redemption. The outstanding Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares may be redeemed as a whole, but not in part, at
any time, or from time to time, at the option of the Board of Trustees, at a
cash price per share equal to 105 percent of (i) the product of the Adjustment
Number times the Average Market Value (as such term is hereinafter defined) of
the Common Shares, plus (ii) all distributions which on the redemption date are
payable on the shares to be redeemed and have not been paid or declared, and a
sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, without interest. The "Average
Market Value" is the average of the closing sale prices of the Common Shares
during the 30 day period immediately preceding the date before the redemption
date on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Common Shares are not listed on
the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on which the
Common Shares are listed, or, if the Common Shares are not listed on any such
exchange, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of the
Common Shares as determined by the Board of Trustees in good faith.
Section 9. Ranking. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares shall rank
junior to all other series of the Company's Preferred Shares as to the payment
of distributions and the distribution of assets in liquidation, unless the terms
of any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. The Declaration of Trust shall not be further
amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers,
preferences or special rights of the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred
Shares so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Series 1998 Junior
Participating Preferred Shares, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the
holders, in proportion to such holders fractional shares, to exercise voting
rights, receive distributions, participate in distributions and to have the
benefit of all other rights of holders of Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares.
Section 12. Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer. The beneficial
ownership and transfer of the Series 1998 Junior Participating Preferred Shares
shall in all respects be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 6.7 of
the Declaration of Trust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these Articles
Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Financial
Officer as of October 26, 1998.
COLONIAL PROPERTIES TRUST
By:
Howard B. Nelson, Jr.
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
SERIES 1998 JUNIOR PARTICIPATING
PREFERRED SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
On October 22, 1998, the Board of Trustees of Colonial Properties
Trust (the "Company") declared a distribution of one right ("Right") for each
outstanding common share of beneficial interest, par value $.01 per share
("Common Shares"), of the Company. The distribution is payable to shareholders
of record at the close of business on November 2, 1998. Each Right, when
exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
ten-thousandth of a Series B Junior Participating Preferred Share of Beneficial
Interest, par value $.01 per share ("Preferred Shares"), at a price of $92.00
per one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding, and no separate certificates
evidencing the Rights will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the
Common Shares and a distribution of Rights Certificates (as defined below) will
occur upon the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of
15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the "Share Acquisition Date") or
(ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Company's Board of Trustees may
determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person of
15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being
called the "Distribution Date").
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
certificates representing Common Shares, and will be transferred with and only
with the certificates representing Common Shares, (ii) new certificates for
Common Shares issued after November 2, 1998 upon transfer or new issuance of the
Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common
Shares outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on November 1, 2008, unless earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company as described below. The Rights will not be exercisable
by a holder in any jurisdiction where the requisite qualification to the
issuance to such holder, or the exercise by such holder, of the Rights has not
been obtained or is not obtainable.
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 Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will
evidence the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Trustees,
only Common Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with
Rights.
In the event that a Person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or
more of the then outstanding Common Shares (except pursuant to an all-cash offer
for all outstanding Common Shares which at least two-thirds of the Trustees
determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders), each holder of a Right will, after the end of a redemption
period referred to below, have the right to exercise the Right by purchasing,
for an amount equal to the Purchase Price, Common Shares (or, in certain
circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value
equal to two times the Purchase Price. For example, at a Purchase Price of $100
per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related
parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $200 worth of Common Shares (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $100. Assuming that the Common Shares had a per share value of
$25 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase
eight Common Shares for $100. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following
the occurrence of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are,
or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. However,
Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the events set forth
above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as
set forth below.
In the event that, at any time following the Share Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity (other than a
merger which follows an offer described in the preceding paragraph), or (ii) 50%
or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries,
including Colonial Realty Limited Partnership, is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth
above) shall, after the expiration of the redemption period referred to below,
have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company
having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right (e.g., common
stock of the acquiring company having a value of $200 for the $100 Purchase
Price).
At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Trustees of the Company may
exchange the Rights for Common Shares (other than Rights owned by such person or
group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one
Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of one ten-thousandths of
a Preferred Share 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 share distribution on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the
Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Shares
or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred
Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of
evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash
distributions) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred
to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional shares will be issued (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share) and in
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of
the Preferred Shares on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
In general, the Board of Trustees of the Company may cause the
Company to redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at any time during the
period commencing on November 2, 1998, and ending on the tenth day following the
Share Acquisition Date, as such period may be extended or shortened by the Board
of Trustees (the "Redemption Period") at a price of $.005 per Right (payable in
cash, Common Shares or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of
Trustees). Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the
decision to redeem the Rights will require the concurrence of at least
two-thirds of the Trustees. After the Redemption Period has expired, the
Company's right of redemption may be reinstated (with the concurrence of at
least two-thirds of the Trustees) if an Acquiring Person reduces his beneficial
ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding Common Shares in a transaction or
series of transactions not involving the Company and there are no other
Acquiring Persons. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Trustees of the
Company ordering redemption of the Rights, with, where required, the concurrence
of two-thirds of the Trustees, the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.005 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will
not be subject to federal taxation to shareholders or to the Company,
shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in
the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Shares (or other
consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company as
set forth above.
Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms
of the Rights (other than an increase in the Purchase Price), any of the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Trustees of
the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the
provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure
any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or to make changes which do not adversely
affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any
Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights
Agreement; provided however, no amendment to adjust the time period governing
redemption may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
* * *
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2008 OR EARLIER
IF REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO
REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.005 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS
SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
ANY SUCH PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND
ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. THE RIGHTS
SHALL NOT BE EXERCISABLE, AND SHALL BE VOID SO LONG AS HELD, BY A HOLDER
IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE REQUISITE QUALIFICATION TO THE ISSUANCE TO
SUCH HOLDER, OR THE EXERCISE BY SUCH HOLDER, OF THE RIGHTS IN SUCH
JURISDICTION SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN OBTAINED OR BE OBTAINABLE. [THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE
OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED
IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.] */
- --------
*/ The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
Rights Certificate
This certifies that , or its registered assigns, is the registered
owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner
thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights
Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
Colonial Properties Trust, an Alabama real estate investment trust (the
"Company"), and BankBoston, N.A., a national banking association (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to the close of business
on November 1, 2008 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully
paid, non-assessable share of the Company's Series 1998 Junior Participating
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preferred Shares"), at a purchase price of $92.00 per one ten-thousandth of a
share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly
executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the
number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above,
and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and Purchase
Price as of November 2, 1998, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at
such date, and are subject to adjustment upon the happening of certain events as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
From and after the occurrence of an event described in Section
11(a)(ii) of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), which a majority of the Trustees (as defined in the Rights
Agreement), in their sole discretion, determine is or was involved in or caused
or facilitated, directly or indirectly (including through any change in the
Board of Trustees), such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) a transferee of any such
Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances
specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a person who, concurrently
with or after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person shall become null and void and no holder hereof
shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence
of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
The Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall not be
exercisable, and shall be void so long as held, by a holder in any jurisdiction
where the requisite qualification to the issuance to such holder, or the
exercise by such holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not have been
obtained or be obtainable.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities, which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events (as such term is defined 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, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Right Certificates
of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of one ten-thousandths of a Preferred Share 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 its option at a
redemption price of $.005 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the
close of business on (i) the tenth day following the Share Acquisition Date (as
such time period may be changed in the discretion of the Board of Trustees
pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final Expiration Date (as
defined in the Rights Agreement). Under certain circumstances set forth in the
Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of at
least two-thirds of the Trustees. After the expiration of the redemption period,
the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring Person
reduces his beneficial ownership to 10% or less of the outstanding Common Shares
in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company, and such
reinstatement is approved by at least two-thirds of the Trustees.
At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Trustees of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such
Acquiring Person which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange
ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of
any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive distributions or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of trustees or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting
thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any trust action, or to receive
notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided
in the Rights Agreement), or to receive distributions or subscription rights, or
otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall
have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ,
ATTEST: Colonial Properties Trust
By:
Name:
Title:
Countersigned:
By:
Authorized Signature
<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:
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned
and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined pursuant
to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: , ____
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the registered holder desires to exercise Rights represented
by the Rights Certificate.)
To:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of
any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and
requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of and
delivered to:
(Please print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
(Please print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:
Dated: ,
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are
not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ,
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
<PAGE>
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit 99.2
Form of Letter to Shareholders
<PAGE>
[COLONIAL LETTERHEAD]
November 2, 1998
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
Your Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it adopted a
Shareholder Rights Plan on October 22, 1998 to further protect your rights and
investment in Colonial Properties Trust. The Plan is designed to protect all
shareholders of the Company against hostile acquirors who may seek to take
advantage of the Company and its shareholders through coercive or unfair tactics
aimed at gaining control of the Company without paying all shareholders of the
Company a full and fair price. As part of this Plan, the Company has authorized
and declared a special distribution of "rights" on its outstanding common shares
of beneficial interest. The enclosed summary description describes the principal
features of the Plan, including the terms of the rights. I urge you to read the
summary carefully and keep it with your share records as it contains important
information.
The rights are not intended to prevent a fair and equitable takeover
of the Company and will not do so. However, the rights should discourage any
effort to acquire the Company in a manner or on terms not approved by the Board
of Trustees. The rights are designed to deal with the serious problem of a
potential acquiror using coercive or unfair tactics to deprive the Company's
Board of Trustees of any real opportunity to determine the future of the Company
and to realize the value of your investment in the Company.
The distribution of rights will not in any way alter the financial
strength of the Company or interfere with its business plans. The distribution
will not change the way in which you can currently trade the Company's shares
and will not be dilutive or affect reported per share results. While the
distribution of the rights will not be taxable either to you or to the Company,
shareholders may, depending on their individual circumstances, recognize taxable
income should the rights become exercisable. As explained in further detail in
the enclosed summary, the rights will only become exercisable if certain events
occur. You do not need to take any current action with respect to your shares.
More than 1,700 publicly-traded companies, including over 60 real
estate investment trusts, have also adopted rights plans similar to the Plan
adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is aware that some argue
that rights plans deter legitimate acquisition proposals. The Board of Trustees
carefully considered these arguments and concluded that they are speculative and
do not justify denying shareholders the protection which the rights afford
against abusive takeover tactics.
Our overriding objective is to preserve the Company's value for all
shareholders. In declaring the rights distribution, your Board of Trustees has
expressed its confidence in the Company's future and its determination that you
be given every opportunity to participate fully in that future.
Very truly yours,
Thomas H. Lowder
Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
President and Chief Executive Officer
