SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 11, 1997
INSO Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in Charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-23384 04-3216243
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
31 St. James Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 753-6500
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On July 11, 1997, the Board of Directors of INSO Corporation (the
"Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock to
stockholders of record at the close of business on July 24, 1997 (the "Record
Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company a unit consisting of one one- thousandth of a share (a "Unit") of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (the
"Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of $145 in cash per Unit (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of
July 11, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and State Street
Bank & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days (or
such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company) 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 20% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), or (ii) 10 business
days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer
that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 30% or more of
such outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the rights), (i) the Rights will be
evidenced by the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and
only with such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates
issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Common Stock outstanding, even without such notation,
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Stock represented by such certificate.
Houghton Mifflin Company shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" unless Houghton Mifflin Company becomes after the close of business on
the Record Date the beneficial owner of more than the Grandfathered Percentage
of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (other than as a result of an
acquisition of Common Stock by the Company which, by reducing the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding, increases the proportionate number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Houghton Mifflin Company).
"Grandfathered Percentage" shall mean, with respect to Houghton Mifflin
Company, the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock that
Houghton Mifflin Company beneficially owns as of the close of business on the
Record Date plus an additional five percentage points; provided, that, in the
event Houghton Mifflin Company shall sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of
any outstanding shares of Common Stock after the close of business on the
Record Date, the Grandfathered Percentage shall, subsequent to such sale,
transfer or disposition, mean the lesser of (i) the Grandfathered Percentage
as in effect immediately prior to such sale, transfer or disposition or
(ii) the percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock that Houghton
Mifflin Company beneficially owns immediately following such sale, transfer
or disposition plus an additional five percentage points. No Person (other
than Houghton Mifflin Company) shall be deemed to be the "beneficial owner"
of shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exchange or redemption
of the 6% Exchangeable Notes due 1999 of Houghton Mifflin Company (known
as the "Stock Appreciation Income Linked Securities" or "SAILS") until such
shares are issued upon such exchange or redemption.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire
upon the earliest of the close of business on July 24, 2007 (the "Final
Expiration Date") or the redemption or exchange of the Rights as described
below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to holders of
record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date and, thereafter, such separate Rights Certificates alone will represent
the Rights.
In the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the
event causing the 20% threshold to be crossed is a Permitted Offer (as
defined in the Rights Agreement), then, promptly following the first
occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder
of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) of the Rights
Agreement) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof
at the then current Purchase Price, in lieu of a number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that equals the result
obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a
Right is then exercisable, and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the
current market price per share of Common Stock on the date of such first
occurrence. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the
occurrence of the event 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. The
event summarized in this paragraph is referred to as "Section 11(a)(ii)
Event."
In the event that, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, (i) the Company is acquired in certain merger or other business
combination transactions in which the Company is not the surviving corporation
or its Common Stock is changed or exchanged (other than a merger which follows
a Permitted Offer), or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which
previously have been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by
one-half of the current market price of such common stock at the date of the
occurrence of the event. The events summarized in this paragraph are
referred to as "Section 13 Events." A Section 11(a)(ii) Event and Section
13 Events are collectively referred to as "Triggering Events."
At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, subject to
certain conditions, the Board of Directors 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 share of Common
Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of
a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights,
preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred Stock or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the
event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred
Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock
or convertible securities at less than the then-current market price of the
Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders
of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings) or
of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock is also
subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a
stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $10 per share and will be entitled
to an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the dividend declared per share of
Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred
Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of
$1000 per share and will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 1000 times
the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock
will have 1000 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. In the event
of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Stock is
exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1000
times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are
protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and
voting rights, the value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one
share of Common Stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment
in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the
last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date, or (ii) the
Final Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), payable in cash,
provided, however, that from and after the time that any Person shall become
an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a Permitted Offer) and prior to
the expiration of the Company's redemption right, the Company may redeem the
Rights only if at the time of the action of the Board of Directors there are
then in office not less than two Continuing Directors (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) and such redemption is approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors then in office. Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and
the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not
be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon
the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights
become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or
for common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Subject to certain exceptions, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to
such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement between the Company and the Rights
Agent specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes as Exhibit A the
Form of Certificate of Designations, as Exhibit B the Form of Rights
Certificate, and as Exhibit C the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Stock, is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by
reference. The foregoing description of the Rights Agreement and the Rights
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such Exhibit.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
The Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits hereto is
incorporated herein by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: July 16, 1997 INSO CORPORATION
/s/ Bruce G. Hill
By: Bruce G. Hill
Vice President and General Counsel
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 1997 between INSO
Corporation and State Street Bank & Trust Company, as
Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the Form of
Certificate of Designations, as Exhibit B the Form of
Rights Certificate, and as Exhibit C the Summary of Rights
to Purchase Preferred Stock.
99.1 Press Release, dated July 11, 1997, announcing adoption of
the Shareholder Rights Plan.
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 11, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), between INSO Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and State Street Bank & Trust Company, as Rights Agent
(the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on July 11, 1997 the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board" or "Board of Directors") authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right for each share of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the close of business
on July 24, 1997 (the "Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one
Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the
provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the
Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or
delivered from the Company's treasury) and the earlier of the Distribution
Date or the Expiration Date, each Right initially representing the right to
purchase one one- thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences
set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations attached hereto as
Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
forth (the "Rights");
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 who or
which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be
the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of
the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or (iv) any Person organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan;
provided, however, that Houghton Mifflin Company shall not be deemed
to be an "Acquiring Person" unless Houghton Mifflin Company becomes
after the close of business on the Record Date the Beneficial Owner of
more than the Grandfathered Percentage of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become
an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Stock by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding,
increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such
Person to 20% (or, if applicable, the Grandfathered Percentage with
respect to such Person) or more of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall
become the Beneficial Owner of 20% (or, if applicable, the Grandfathered
Percentage with respect to such Person) or more of the shares of Common
Stock of the Company then outstanding as the result of an acquisition of
Common Stock by the Company and shall, after such acquisition of
Common Stock by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any
additional Common Stock of the Company (other than pursuant to a stock
split, stock dividend or similar transaction) and immediately thereafter be
the Beneficial Owner of 20% (or, if applicable, the Grandfathered
Percentage with respect to such Person) or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding, then such Person shall be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who
would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently,
and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock so that such Person would no longer be an
"Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person" for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person
shall again become an "Acquiring Person."
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.
(c) "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 and
in effect on the date of this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(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, beneficially owns or 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
(other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and
selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of
securities), whether or not in writing, or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, other 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 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, and, provided further, that no person
other than Houghton Mifflin Company shall be deemed the "Beneficial
Owner" of, or to "beneficially own" any shares of Common Stock which
are issuable upon the exchange or redemption of the 6% Exchangeable
Notes due 1999 of Houghton Mifflin Company (the "Stock Appreciation
Income Linked Securities" or "SAILS") until such shares are issued upon
such exchange or redemption;
(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, or any
comparable or successor rule), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and
between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona
fide public offering of securities), whether or not in writing; provided,
however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or
to "beneficially own," (1) 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
then reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act
(or any comparable or successor report) or (2) any shares of Common
Stock which are issuable upon the exchange or redemption of the SAILS
until such shares are issued upon such exchange or redemption; 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 (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities and the First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 27, 1995 between Houghton
Mifflin Company and The First National Bank of Boston relating to the
SAILS), 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 (d)) or disposing of any voting
securities of the Company.
For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including
for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner,
shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(l)(i) of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to close.
(f) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean
5:00 p.m., Boston time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date
is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., Boston time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock,
$0.01 par value, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used
with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the
capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management, of such Person.
(h) "Common stock equivalents" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(i) "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of
the Board of Directors, while such person is a member of the Board of
Directors, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person, or a representative or nominee of an Acquiring
Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and who either (i) was a
member of the Board of Directors prior to the time that any Person became
an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a Permitted Offer) or (ii)
subsequently became a member of the Board of Directors, and whose
nomination for election or election to the Board of Directors was
recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then
on the Board of Directors.
(j) "Current market price" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(k) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(l) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof.
(m) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1(c) hereof.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of
business on July 24, 2007.
(p) "Grandfathered Percentage" shall mean, with
respect to Houghton Mifflin Company, the percentage of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock that Houghton Mifflin Company beneficially
owns as of the close of business on the Record Date plus an additional five
percentage points; provided, that, in the event Houghton Mifflin Company
shall sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any outstanding shares of
Common Stock after the close of business on the Record Date, the
Grandfathered Percentage shall, subsequent to such sale, transfer or
disposition, mean the lesser of (i) the Grandfathered Percentage as in
effect immediately prior to such sale, transfer or disposition or (ii) the
percentage of outstanding shares of Common Stock that Houghton Mifflin
Company beneficially owns immediately following such sale, transfer or
disposition plus an additional five percentage points.
(q) "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an
exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and
on terms determined, prior to the consummation of such tender offer or
exchange offer, by at least a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors (provided, that at the time of such approval of the Board of
Directors there are then in office not less than two Continuing Directors
and such offer is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then
in office), after receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Board of Directors, to be (a) at a price that is
fair to stockholders (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 stockholders.
(r) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership, trust, association or other entity.
(s) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company
having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Designations attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A and, to the extent
that there is not a sufficient number of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the
Rights, any other series of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of the
Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially
similar to the terms of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(v) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
the WHEREAS clause at the beginning of the Agreement.
(w) "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 7(a) hereof.
(x) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 23(a) hereof.
(y) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of the Agreement.
(z) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
(aa) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean an acquisition
of Common Stock described in the first sentence of Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(bb) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(cc) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described
in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(dd) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date
of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall
include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under
the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an
Acquiring Person has become such.
(ff) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any
Person, any corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient
to elect at least a majority of the directors of such corporation is
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise
controlled by such Person.
(gg) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(hh) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(ii) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or any Section 13 Event.
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 Stock) in accordance
with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts
such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such Co-
Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) days'
prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no
duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions
of any such co-Rights Agent.
Section 3. Issue of Rights.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company) after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the
tenth Business Day after the Stock 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 such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company) after the
date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of
the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan) 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 30% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the
"Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the
provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the
Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common
Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be
certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights
will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying
shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). 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 the
Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more
rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the
"Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common
Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that
an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has
been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of
the Right Certificates, the Company shall make the 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 Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record
Date, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, by
first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such
holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to certificates
for the Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on the
Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the
Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated
Rights.
(c) Rights shall be issued (i) in respect of all shares of
Common Stock that are issued (either as an original issuance or from the
Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date and (ii) in connection with the
issuance or sale of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date upon the exercise of stock options, or upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of securities, granted or issued by the
Company prior to the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, certificates issued
upon transfer or exchange of Common Stock) shall also be deemed to be
certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between INSO Corporation
(the "Company") and State Street Bank & Trust Company (the "Rights
Agent") dated as of July 11 1997, as the same may be amended, restated or
renewed from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which
are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file
at the principal 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
promptly 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 Associates 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.
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 Stock represented by such certificates shall
be evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights.
(d) Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of
Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also
constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of
Common Stock. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any
shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the
Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common
Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common
Stock which are no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase, certification and assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof)
shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto and
may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends,
summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or
with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any stock exchange or over-the-counter market 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 distributed, shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be
set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one
one-thousandth of a share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type
of securities purchasable upon the 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
or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by persons
known to be: (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 the Board of Directors of the
Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
that 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
Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf
of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice
President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed
thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, which shall be attested
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either
manually or by facsimile signature. The 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 offi-
cer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates 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
shall keep or cause to be kept, at its office 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, the Certificate number 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 Expiration Date, any Rights
Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights
that have become void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof or that have been
exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) 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
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering
Event, Common Stock, 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 or Certificates 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, with the form of assignment and certificate
appropriately executed, at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any
such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have
completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment
on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such
additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall
reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver
to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as
the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or
exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent
of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or
destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and
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 Section 7(e) 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 office of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price
with respect to the total number of one one-thousandths of a share (or
other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the
Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights expire as provided
in Section 13(d) hereof, (iii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 hereof (the "Redemption Date") or (iv) the time at
which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the
earliest of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) being herein referred to as the
"Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandth of
a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially
be $145 and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided
in Sections 11 and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable 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 one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock (or other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case
may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any
applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k)
hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of
the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the
transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the
Company hereby authorizes its transfer agent to comply with such
requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights
hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates
for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such
requests, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to
be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same
to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by
such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The
payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant
to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified bank
check or money order payable to the order of the Company. In the event
that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common
Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant
to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company shall make all arrangements
necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are
available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent 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 the
Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or
understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the
Board of Directors has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or un-
derstanding that 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 insure 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 transfer or exercise as set forth in this
Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and signed
the certificate following the form of assignment or election to purchase set
forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such
assignment or exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or
Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split
up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any
of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled
by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement.
The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and
retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other
Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than
upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled
Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the
Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering
Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or
other securities or out of its authorized and issued shares held in its
treasury), the number of shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock 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) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or
other securities) issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights
are eligible for listing on the Nasdaq National Market or 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 so listed 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 Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following
the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under
the Act, with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause
such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all
times meeting the requirements of the 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. Upon 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. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction unless the requisite registration or qualification in such
jurisdiction shall have been effected or obtained.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take
all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one one-thousandths
of a share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a
Triggering Event, Common Stock 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 nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it
will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes
and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of
the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company
shall not, however, be required (i) to pay any transfer tax that may be
payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a
Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of, the
registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered
for exercise or (ii) to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 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 Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose
name any certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 shares of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock 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 all applicable transfer taxes) was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is
a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or Common Stock 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 Stock (or Common
Stock 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, as such, shall not be entitled to any
rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to securities for which
the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to
vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
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 dividend on the Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding
Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), 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 dividend or of the effective
date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as
the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately
adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time
shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price
then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred
Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had
been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when
the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company were open, he
would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive
by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs that 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 Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event that any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates or
Associates, becomes an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a
Permitted Offer), then, promptly following the first occurrence of
such event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a
Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall
thereafter have the right to receive (subject to the last sentence of
Section 23(a)), upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase
Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a
number of one one- thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that equals
the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase
Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, 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) by 50% of the current market
price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number
of shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common
Stock that are authorized by the Company's certificate of
incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for
purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient
to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company
shall: (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, make adequate provision to substitute
for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable
Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3)
Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of
preferred stock which the Board of Directors of the Company has
deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock (such
shares of preferred stock, "common stock 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 of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the
Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value
pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the
later of (x) 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, shares
of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary,
cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to
the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall deter-
mine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares
of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise
in full of the Rights, 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 the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second
sentences 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 such first sentence 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 Stock shall be
the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall
be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such
date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to sub scribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or
shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of
Preferred Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible
into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per share of
Preferred Stock or per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a
conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or
equivalent preferred stock) less than the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock
on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on
such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the
aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
and/or equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered)
would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on
such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock
and/or equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase
(or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially
convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of
consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the
value of such consideration shall be as deter mined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be
conclusive for all purposes. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held
for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the
purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall
be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness,
cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable
in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than
Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less
the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Direc-
tors of the Company, 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
share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per
share of Preferred Stock on such record date. Such adjustments shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event
that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted
to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record
date had not been fixed.
(d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof,
the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date
shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per
share of such Common Stock for the thirty (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 share of
Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of
the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the
ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such
date; provided, however, that in the event that the current market
price per share of the Common Stock is determined during a period
following the announcement by the issuer of such Common Stock
of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable
in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into
shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Common
Stock, 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
properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way,
or, in case no such sale takes 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 principal
national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock
are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of Common Stock
are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and the low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq") or
such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares of
Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock
selected by the Board of Directors. If on any such date no market
maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of
such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board
of Directors shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a
day on which Nasdaq or any national securities exchange on which
the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is
open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common
Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any
national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common
Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market
price" per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors, 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 share of Preferred Stock shall be
determined in the same manner as set forth above for the Common
Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the last sen-
tence thereof). If the current market price per share of Preferred
Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the
Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner
described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market
price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to
be an amount equal to 1,000 (as such number may be appropriately
adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock dividends and
recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock occurring after
the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market price
per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor
the Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, "current
market price" per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair
value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, 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 one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be
equal to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock
divided by 1,000.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment
would require an in crease or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the
Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason
of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward
and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations
under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest
ten-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, or hundred-thousandth of a
share of Common Stock or other security, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i)
three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates 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 securities other than
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other securities so
receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall
be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as
nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Stock contained in 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 Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other
securities.
(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 one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from
time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further
adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its
election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the
Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and
(c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such ad-
justment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted
Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock (calculated to the nearest ten-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying
(x) the number of one one-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 imme-
diately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of
any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the
Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be
exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjust-
ment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of
Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-
hundred- 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 one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights
Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the
Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share and the number of one
one-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 stated value, if any,
of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corpo-
rate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order
that the Company may validly and legally issue such number of one one-
thousandths of a share of fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Stock at
such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require
that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record
date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised
after such record date the number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis
of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities 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 in their good faith judgment the
Board of Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in
order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii)
issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the
current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred
Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v)
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this Section 11,
hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Stock shall not
be taxable to such stockholders.
(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 that
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 instru-
ments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that 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.
The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such other Person shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental
agreement evidencing compliance with this Section 11(n).
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23,
Section 24 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
Record Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare or pay any
dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller
number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but
prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the
number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock
following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior
to the occurrence of such event and the denominator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following
the occurrence of such event.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or
Section 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 Stock and the Common Stock, 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 shares of Common Stock) in accordance with
Section 26 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) In the event that, at any time after a Person has
become an Acquiring Person, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or
merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and
the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the
Company in a transaction that 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 corporation of such consolidation or
merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any
other property (other than a merger or consolidation in which the shares of
Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation are changed into or exchanged for shares of
common stock representing more than 75% of the voting power of such
other Person), 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 and except as 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 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 tradeable
shares of Common Stock 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 one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a
Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one one-thousandths of
a 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, 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 (determined pursuant
to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii)
such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by
virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall
thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically
intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such
Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv)
such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the
reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of
Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and
(v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) 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 shares of Common
Stock 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 Stock of such
Person is not at such time and has 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 Stock of which is and has been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) in case such Person
is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the
Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered,
"Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of
the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value; and (3) in
case such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a joint venture formed
by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the
same Person, the rules set forth in (1) and (2) above shall apply to each of
the chains of ownership having an interest in such joint venture as if such
party were a "Subsidiary" of both or all of such joint ventures and the
Principal Parties in each such chain shall bear the obligations set forth in
this Section 13 in the same ratio as their direct or indirect interests in such
Person bear to the total of such interests.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have
a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have
not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the
Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the
Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to
the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set
forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing
that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger or
sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal
Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement
under the 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) use its best efforts to qualify or register the
Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
under the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary
or appropriate; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
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).
(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 shares of Common Stock
pursuant to a Permitted Offer, (ii) the price per share of Common Stock
paid in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common
Stock paid to all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were
purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer, and (iii) the form of
consideration paid in such transaction is the same as the form of
consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon consummation
of any such transaction contemplated by this 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(i) or (p) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates that
evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be
paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to
which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
Right. For 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 of the Rights for any day shall
be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on
such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in
either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the
principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and the low asked prices in the over-the-
counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or,
if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of
Directors. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market
in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one- thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock)
upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates that evidence
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of
fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock), the
Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the
time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal
to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a
share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current
market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be
one one-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (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 a Triggering Event, the
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common
Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares
of Common Stock, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of
Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided
an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market price of
one (1) share of Common Stock (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
Rights expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this
Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, except the rights of action expressly given to the Rights Agent
in Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered
holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock),
without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common
Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may
institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company
to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate
remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to
specific performance of the obligations hereunder 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 Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates
are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if
surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes,
duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with
the appropriate forms and certificates duly completed and fully 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 a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and
of the Rights evidenced thereby (not withstanding any notations of
ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common
Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights
Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e) hereof, shall be
required to be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any
liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability
to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued
by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or
executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority,
prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation;
provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such order, decree or ruling and to have any such order,
decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number
of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock 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 stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25
hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until
the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been
exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(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 disbursements and other disbursements incurred in
the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and
performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to
indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration
of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against
any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur
no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon
any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or
acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the
advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust or
stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent,
shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions
of Section 21 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 a 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 or in the name of the suc-
cessor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this
Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent
shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall
not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such
Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes
the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following
terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of
Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
(who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the
Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in
accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under
this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that
any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any
Acquiring Person and the determination of "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 conclu-
sively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any
action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this
Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder 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 or be required to verify the same
(except as to its countersignature on such Rights Certificates), but all such
statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the
Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any respon-
sibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and
delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or
in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in
any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment
required under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13 or Section 24
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 receipt of a certificate describing
any such adjustment, delivered pursuant to Section 12); nor shall it by any
act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or
as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when
so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed,
acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments
and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the
carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this
Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed
to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties
hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any As-
sistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice
or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for
any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent
for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights
Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by
the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Rights
Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or
omitted and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or
omitted in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on
or after the date specified therein (which date shall not be less than five
Business Days after the date any such officer actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking or omitting any such action, the Rights
Agent has received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any 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, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the
Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in
the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing
that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate
surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate
attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the
case may be, has not been completed, the Company and the Rights Agent
will deem the beneficial owner of the rights evidenced by such Rights
Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
and such assignment or election to purchase will not be honored.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties
under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the
Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and 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 Stock and Preferred
Stock, 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 any 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) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States (or of any state of the United States) in good standing, which
is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer
powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a
corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights,
duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights
Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall
deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time
held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the
effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer
agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice
thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation
or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights
Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary,
the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing
Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or
kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the
Rights Certificates made in accordance with the pro visions of this
Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii)
the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then
outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right, as such amount
may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price
being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"); provided, however,
that from and after the time that any Person shall become an Acquiring
Person (other than pursuant to a Permitted Offer), but prior to the
expiration of the right of redemption set forth in this sentence, the
Company may redeem the Rights only if at the time of the action of the
Board of Directors there are then in office not less than two Continuing
Directors and such redemption is approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office. The redemption of the Rights by the Board may
be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. 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 until such
time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has expired.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence
of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to
receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held. Promptly after the
action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the
Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books
of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry
books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will
state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be
made.
(c) The Company may, at its option, discharge all of its
obligations with respect to the Rights by (i) issuing a press release
announcing the manner of redemption of the Rights in accordance with
this Agreement and (ii) mailing payment of the Redemption Price to the
registered holders of the Rights at their last addresses as they appear on the
registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the Transfer Agent of the Common Shares, and upon
such action, all outstanding Rights and Right Certificates shall be null and
void without any further action by the Company.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all or part of
the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which (i) shall not include
Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e)
hereof, and (ii) shall include, without limitation, any Rights issued after
the Distribution Date) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of
one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the
date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwith- standing the foregoing, the Board of
Directors of the Company shall not be empowered to effect such exchange
at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such
Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24, evidence of which shall have been filed
with the Rights Agent, 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
shares of Common Stock 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 shall
state the method by which the exchange of shares of Common Stock for
Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the
number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be
effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which
have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.
(c) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the
Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Stock (or equivalent
preferred stock, as such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for shares
of Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-
thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent preferred stock) for
each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect
adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred Stock pursuant to
Section 3(A) of the Certificate of Designations attached hereto as
Exhibit A, so that the fraction of a share of Preferred Stock (or equivalent
preferred stock) delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall
have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares
of Common Stock or Preferred Stock 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 shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(e) The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional
shares of Common Stock, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of
Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common
Stock. For the purposes of this subsection (e), the current market value of
a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing price per share of
Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of
Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date
of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after
the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class
to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the
holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend
out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the
holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to
purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any
class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any
reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification
involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock),
or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any other Person
(other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies
with Section 11(o) hereof), 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 transaction or a series of related 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 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), 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 stock
dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such
reclassifi- cation, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation,
dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation
therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is
to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action
covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to the
record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
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 shares of Preferred
Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case a 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 Stock shall be deemed thereafter to
refer also to Common Stock 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:
INSO Corporation
31 St. James Avenue
Boston, MA 02116-4101
Attention: President
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder
of any 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:
State Street Bank & Trust Company
c/o Boston Equiserve
150 Royall Street
Mail Stop 45-02-62
Canton, MA 02021
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
(or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates repre-
senting shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the
address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. Except as provided in
the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, for so long as the Rights are
then redeemable, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion,
and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approv-
al of any holders of the Rights. At any time when the Rights are no longer
redeemable, except as provided in the penultimate sentence of this
Section 27, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company
so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of
any holders of Rights 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, provided that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely
affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); and
provided further, that this Agreement may not be supplemented or
amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time
period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed, or (B) 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.
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, (i) no supplement or
amendment shall be made which changes the Redemption Price or the
Final Expiration Date, and (ii) from and after the time that any Person
shall become an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to a Permitted
Offer), but prior to the expiration of the right of redemption set forth in
Section 23(a), this Agreement may be amended or supplemented only if at
such time there are not less than two Continuing Directors and such
amendment or supplement is approved by a majority of Continuing
Directors in office. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the
holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of Common Stock.
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. Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The Board of
Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers
specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of
this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this
Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions
with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in
good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the
Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board 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, registered holders of the
Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the
Common Stock).
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction
or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and
each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract
made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and
shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provi-
sions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused
this 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.
Attest: INSO Corporation
By: /s/ Bruce G. Hill By: /s/ Steven R. Vana-Paxhia
Name: Bruce G. Hill Name: Steven R. Vana-Paxhia
Title: Vice President and Title: President and CEO
General Counsel
Attest: State Street Bank & Trust Company
By: /s/ Douglas Ives By: /s/ Laura Welch
Name: Douglas Ives Name: Laura Welch
Title: Account Manager Title: Administration Manager
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
INSO CORPORATION
INSO Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Corporation"),
hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation at a meeting duly called and held on July 11,
1997:
RESOLVED: That pursuant to the authority granted to and vested
in the Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board
of Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Board of Directors hereby
creates a series of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), of the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number
of shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences and limitations thereof
as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Series A Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the
Series A Preferred Stock shall be forty thousand (40,000). Such number
of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of
Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion
of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into
Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior
to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds of the
Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends, quarterly
dividends payable in cash on the last day of each fiscal quarter of the
Corporation in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a
"Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a
share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $10 or (b) subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions,
other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately
preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series A Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the first
sentence of this Section 2(A) shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock) and the
Corporation shall pay such dividend or distribution on the Series A
Preferred Stock before the dividend or distribution declared on the
Common Stock is paid or set apart; provided that, in the event no dividend
or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the
period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $10 per share
on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such
subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares,
unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such
shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless
the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after
the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such
dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an
amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued
and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share
basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or
distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of
votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. In the event
the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series
A Preferred Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect
a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the
number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately
after such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Certificate of
Incorporation or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of
the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one
class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series A Preferred
Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends
thereon, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate
series from all other series of Preferred Stock and classes of capital stock,
shall be entitled to elect two members of the Board of Directors in addition
to any Directors elected by any other series, class or classes of securities
and the authorized number of Directors will automatically be increased by
two. Promptly thereafter, the Board of Directors of this Corporation shall,
as soon as may be practicable, call a special meeting of holders of Series A
Preferred Stock for the purpose of electing such members of the Board of
Directors. Said special meeting shall in any event be held within 45 days
of the occurrence of such arrearage.
(ii) During any period when the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting as a separate series, shall be entitled and shall have
exercised their right to elect two Directors, then and during such time as
such right continues (a) the then authorized number of Directors shall be
increased by two, and the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a
separate series, shall be entitled to elect the additional Directors so
provided for, and (b) each such additional Director shall not be a member
of any existing class of the Board of Directors, but shall serve until the
next annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors, or until
his successor shall be elected and shall qualify, or until his right to hold
such office terminates pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3(C).
(iii) A Director elected pursuant to the terms hereof may
be removed with or without cause by the holders of Series A Preferred
Stock entitled to vote in an election of such Director.
(iv) If, during any interval between annual meetings of
stockholders for the election of Directors and while the holders of Series A
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect two Directors, there is no such
Director in office by reason of resignation, death or removal, then,
promptly thereafter, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting of
the holders of Series A Preferred Stock for the purpose of filling such
vacancy and such vacancy shall be filled at such special meeting. Such
special meeting shall in any event be held within 45 days of the occurrence
of such vacancy.
(v) At such time as the arrearage is fully cured, and all
dividends accumulated and unpaid on any shares of Series A Preferred
Stock outstanding are paid, and, in addition thereto, at least one regular
dividend has been paid subsequent to curing such arrearage, the term of
office of any Director elected pursuant to this Section 3(C), or his
successor, shall automatically terminate, and the authorized number of
Directors shall automatically decrease by two, the rights of the holders of
the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock to vote as provided in this
Section 3(C) shall cease, subject to renewal from time to time upon the
same terms and conditions, and the holders of shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock shall have only the limited voting rights elsewhere herein
set forth.
(D) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A
Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation
shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends
or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable
or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred
Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of
any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon
such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in
fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under
paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares
at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition
thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized
but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a
new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on
issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other
Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of
stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $1000
per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment,
provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate
amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock,
or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the
Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
(B) Neither the consolidation, merger or other business
combination of the Corporation with or into any other corporation nor the
sale, lease, exchange or conveyance of all or any part of the property,
assets or business of the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation for purposes of this
Section 6.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock,
or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate
amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were
entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of
paragraph (A) of this Section 6 shall be adjusted by multiplying such
amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series A Preferred
Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the
aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock
were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause
(1) of paragraph (A) of this Section 6 shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares
of Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, in case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share
of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged
or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for
adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount
of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as
the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is
changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater
or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event. In the event
the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Series
A Preferred Stock payable in shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or effect
a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of
Series A Preferred Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in shares of Series A Preferred Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the first sentence of this Section 7 with respect to the
exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding immediately
after such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to
all series of any other class of the Preferred Stock issued either before or
after the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any
such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. At such time as any shares of Series A
Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which
would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights
of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two- thirds of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be
issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion
to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive
dividends, participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other
rights of holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is
executed on behalf of the Corporation by its President this 11th day of
July, 1997.
INSO CORPORATION
By:
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R-
Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 24, 2007 OR EARLIER IF
REDEEMED OR EXCHANGED BY THE COMPANY. THE RIGHTS
ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT AND TO
EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY
SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL
AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS
CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A
PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS
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.]
INSO CORPORATION
Rights Certificate
This certifies that , or registered assigns, is the
registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions
of the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 1997 (the "Rights
Agreement"), between INSO Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and State Street Bank & Trust Company (the "Rights
Agent"), to purchase from the Company after the Distribution Date (as
such term is defined on the Rights Agreement) and at any time prior to
5:00 p.m. (Boston time) on July 24, 2007 at the office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-
thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, $.01
par value per share, at a purchase price of $145 in cash per one one-
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 one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth
above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of the close of business on July 11, 1997, based on the
Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. Capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such
terms in the Rights Agreement.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, if the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring
Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a
transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, 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, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder
hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the
occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock 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 Section 11(a)(ii) Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and
conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part
hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full
description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders
of the Rights Certificates, 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 principal offices of the Company and
are available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, with the Form of Election and Certificate set forth on the reverse
side duly executed, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the
holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a
share of Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate
or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to
purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder
shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights
Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not
exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its
option at a redemption price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Company
may, at its option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, exchange all
or part of the Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of the
Company's Common Stock or for Preferred Stock (or shares of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock having the same rights, privileges
and preferences as the Preferred Stock).
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock will be issued upon the
exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions
which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as
provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of
shares of Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which
may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything
contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon
the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any
matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or
withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings
or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights
Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise,
until the Right or Rights evidenced by this 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: INSO CORPORATION
___________________________ By:___________________________
Secretary Title:
COUNTERSIGNED:
State Street Bank & Trust Company:
By:___________________________
Authorized Signature
[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:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate are not being beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement).
Dated: ______________
__________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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.
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise
Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)
To: State Street Bank & Trust Company
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the
shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such
other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
Dated: ______________
___________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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 thereof (as such terms are
defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, the undersigned [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or
became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: _______________
__________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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 C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On July 11, 1997, the Board of Directors of INSO Corporation (the
"Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred stock purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock to
stockholders of record at the close of business on July 24, 1997 (the
"Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from
the Company a unit consisting of one one- thousandth of a share (a "Unit")
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share
(the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of $145 in cash per Unit (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of July 11, 1997 (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and State Street Bank & Trust
Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the
Common Stock and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of
(i) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company) 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 20%
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisi-
tion Date"), or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) following the com-
mencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a
person or group beneficially owning 30% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the rights), (i) the Rights will be evidenced by
the Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with
such Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates
issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
certificates for Common Stock outstanding, even without such notation,
will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Stock represented by such certificate.
Houghton Mifflin Company shall not be deemed to be an
"Acquiring Person" unless Houghton Mifflin Company becomes after the
close of business on the Record Date the beneficial owner of more than the
Grandfathered Percentage of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding (other than as a result of an acquisition of Common Stock by
the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by Houghton Mifflin Company).
"Grandfathered Percentage" shall mean, with respect to Houghton Mifflin
Company, the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock that
Houghton Mifflin Company beneficially owns as of the close of business
on the Record Date plus an additional five percentage points; provided,
that, in the event Houghton Mifflin Company shall sell, transfer, or
otherwise dispose of any outstanding shares of Common Stock after the
close of business on the Record Date, the Grandfathered Percentage shall,
subsequent to such sale, transfer or disposition, mean the lesser of (i) the
Grandfathered Percentage as in effect immediately prior to such sale,
transfer or disposition or (ii) the percentage of outstanding shares of
Common Stock that Houghton Mifflin Company beneficially owns
immediately following such sale, transfer or disposition plus an additional
five percentage points. No Person (other than Houghton Mifflin
Company) shall be deemed to be the "beneficial owner" of shares of
Common Stock that are issuable upon the exchange or redemption of the
6% Exchangeable Notes due 1999 of Houghton Mifflin Company (known
as the "Stock Appreciation Income Linked Securities" or "SAILS") until
such shares are issued upon such exchange or redemption.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire upon the earliest of the close of business on July 24, 2007 (the
"Final Expiration Date") or the redemption or exchange of the Rights as
described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and, thereafter, such separate Rights Certificates alone
will represent the Rights.
In the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, unless
the event causing the 20% threshold to be crossed is a Permitted Offer (as
defined in the Rights Agreement), then, promptly following the first
occurrence of such event, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e) of the
Rights Agreement) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price, in lieu of a number of one one-
thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company that equals the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is then
exercisable, and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the current market
price per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the
event 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. The event
summarized in this paragraph is referred to as "Section 11(a)(ii) Event."
In the event that, at any time after any Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, (i) the Company is acquired in certain merger or other
business combination transactions in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation or its Common Stock is changed or exchanged
(other than a merger which follows a Permitted Offer), or (ii) 50% or more
of the Company's assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each
holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set
forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, that
number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which
equals the exercise price of the Right divided by one-half of the current
market price of such common stock at the date of the occurrence of the
event. The events summarized in this paragraph are referred to as
"Section 13 Events." A Section 11(a)(ii) Event and Section 13 Events are
collectively referred to as "Triggering Events."
At any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event,
subject to certain conditions, the Board of Directors 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
share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock
having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights
are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the
event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred
Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred
Stock or convertible securities at less than the then-current market price of
the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the
Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular
periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
The number of Rights associated with each share of Common
Stock is also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the
Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in
Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the
Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential quarterly dividend payment of $10 per share and will be
entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1000 times the dividend declared per
share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the
Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation
payment of $1000 per share and will be entitled to an aggregate payment
of 1000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share
of Preferred Stock will have 1000 votes, voting together with the Common
Stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in
which Common Stock is exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 1000 times the amount received per share of Common
Stock. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred
Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the
Purchase Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an
adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred
Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date, or
(ii) the Final Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in
whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption
Price"), payable in cash, provided, however, that from and after the time
that any Person shall become an Acquiring Person (other than pursuant to
a Permitted Offer) and prior to the expiration of the Company's
redemption right, the Company may redeem the Rights only if at the time
of the action of the Board of Directors there are then in office not less than
two Continuing Directors (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
redemption is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of
the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event
that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other
consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring
company as set forth above.
Subject to certain exceptions, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K dated July 11, 1997. A copy of the Rights Agreement is
available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of
the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
INSO Corporation
31 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Telephone 617-753-6500
Facsimile 617-753-6666
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INSO CORPORATION ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JULY 11, 1997. INSO Corporation
(NASDAQ - INSO) announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a
Shareholder Rights Plan in which preferred stock purchase rights will be
distributed on July 24, 1997 as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each
share of the Company's Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business
on that date.
The Rights Plan is designed to enable all stockholders of INSO to realize
the long-term value of their investment in the Company. Steven R. Vana-Paxhia
the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said the Rights Plan "will
not restrict consideration by the Board of any offer on terms favorable to all
stockholders, but is intended to protect the interests of stockholders in the
event the Company is confronted with coercive or unfair takeover tactics."
He noted that such tactics include "a partial or two-tiered tender offer that
does not treat all stockholders equally, the acquisition in the open market or
otherwise of shares constituting control without offering fair value to all
stockholders, or other abusive takeover tactics." "These tactics," he added,
"can unfairly pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their investment
without giving them any real choice, and deprive them of the full value of
their shares."
Each Right will entitle the holders of the Company's Common Stock to
purchase one one-thousandth of a share of a new series of junior participating
preferred stock of the Company at an exercise price of $145. The Rights will
be exercisable only if a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of
20% or more of the Common Stock of the Company or announces a tender or
exchange offer that would result in such person or group owning 30% or more
of the Common Stock of the Company.
Generally, if any person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of
the shares of Common Stock of the Company, except pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer for all shares at a fair price as determined by the outside
Board members, each Right not owned by the 20% or more stockholder will
enable its holder to purchase that number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock which equals the exercise price of the Right divided by one-half of
the current market price of such Common Stock at the date of the occurrence
of the event. In addition, if the Company is involved in a merger or other
business combination transaction with another person or group in which it is
not the surviving corporation or in connection with which its Common Stock
is changed or converted, or it sells or transfers 50% or more of its assets
or earning power to another person, each Right that has not previously been
exercised will entitle its holder to purchase that number of shares of Common
Stock of such other person which equals the exercise price of the Right
divided by one-half of the current market price of such Common Stock at the
date of the occurrence of the event.
The Company will generally be entitled, subject to certain Board of
Directors approval criteria, to redeem the Rights at $0.01 per Right at any
time until the tenth business day following public announcement that a 20%
stock position has been acquired and in certain other circumstances. The
Rights will expire on July 24, 2007 unless earlier redeemed or exchanged.
INSO Corporation is a leading provider of multilingual software products
that help people create, access and distribute electronic information in
environments ranging from computer desktops to the Internet. INSO's products
are designed to address the proofing, searching and electronic publishing
markets worldwide. The Company markets its products to original equipment
manufacturers of computer hardware, software and consumer electronics
products, as well as to major corporations, government agencies and end users.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bruce Hill
Vice President and General Counsel
INSO Corporation
31 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Phone: (617) 753-6500
Fax: (617) 753-6666
