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FORM 8-A/A
(Amendment No.1)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North Carolina 56-1714315
(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
4709 Creekstone Drive, Riverbirch Building, Suite 200,
Durham, North Carolina 27703-8411
(Address of principal executive offices)
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [ ]
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [X]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates:
N/A (if applicable)
- -------------------
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Title of each class to be so registered Name of each exchange on which each class is to be
registered
<S> <C>
None None
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</TABLE>
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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(Title of class)
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES
TO BE REGISTERED.
On November 4, 1999, the Board of Directors of Quintiles Transnational Corp., a
North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend distribution of
one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of
the Company's common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock") to shareholders
of record at the close of business on November 15, 1999 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share (a "Preferred Stock Fraction") of the
Company's Series A Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the "Preferred Stock") at a
price of One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment in certain circumstances.
On November 5, 1999, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission a Registration Statement on Form 8-A to register Rights issuable in
accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement between the Company and First
Union National Bank ("First Union"), as Rights Agent, dated as of November 5,
1999 (the "Rights Agreement").
On May 4, 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the amendment
and restatement of the Rights Agreement, resulting in an Amended and Restated
Rights Agreement between the Company and First Union, as Rights Agent, dated as
of November 5, 1999 and amended and restated as of May 4, 2000 (the "Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement"). The description and terms of the Rights are set
forth in the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement.
The amendments include, without limitation, the following: (i) the elimination
of the definition of "Continuing Director" and the elimination of all
references to that term; (ii) the modification of the redemption and amendment
sections of the Rights Agreement to reflect the elimination of the "Continuing
Director" concept; and (iii) the modification of Exhibit B "Form of Rights
Certificate" and Exhibit C "Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock" to
reflect the elimination of the "Continuing Director" concept.
Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the following sets forth the complete text of "Item 1. Description of the
Registrant's Securities to be Registered," of the Company's Form 8-A as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 1999, as amended by
this Form 8-A/A (Amendment No. 1).
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing the outstanding shares, and no separate Rights Certificates will
be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or, in the case of the Grandfathered Person referred to in the
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership of a percentage of
outstanding Common Stock in excess of the Grandfathered Percentage referred to
therein (the date of such announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date")
other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain
inadvertent actions by certain shareholders, or (ii) 10 business days (or such
later date as the Company's Board of Directors shall determine) following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person
or group becoming an Acquiring Person (which in the case of the Grandfathered
Person, occurs upon beneficial ownership of a percentage of outstanding Common
Stock in excess of the Grandfathered Percentage).
Until the Distribution Date, (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 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement
by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for
Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, 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, the separate Rights Certificates alone
will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors, and except in connection with the exercise of stock options and any
other issuances of Common Stock with respect to awards under employee benefit
plans, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will
be issued with Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on November 15, 2009, North Carolina time, unless
extended prior to such time by the Board of Directors, or earlier if redeemed
by the Company as described below.
Except in the circumstances described below, after the Distribution Date each
Right will be exercisable for a Preferred Stock Fraction. Each Preferred Stock
Fraction carries voting and dividend rights that are intended to produce the
equivalent of one share of Common Stock. The voting and dividend rights of the
Preferred Stock are subject to adjustment in the event of dividends,
subdivisions and combinations with respect to the Common Stock of the Company.
In lieu of issuing certificates for
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fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of Preferred Stock Fractions), the Company may pay cash in accordance
with the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, except pursuant to an
offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent
directors, who are not associated with an Acquiring Person, determine to be fair
and adequate to shareholders and to be otherwise in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders (a "Qualified Offer"), each holder of a Right will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in
certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Notwithstanding any
of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the events described in this
paragraph, any Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the
Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction in which
the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages in a
merger or other business combination transaction with another person in which
the Company is the surviving corporation, but its Common Stock is changed or
exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets, earning power, or cash
flow is sold or transferred (except with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), a
merger or other business combination which follows a fair offer described in the
second preceding paragraph and in which the amount and form of consideration is
the same as was paid in such offer), 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, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Stock Fractions 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 the Preferred Stock or other capital stock, or a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) if the holders of
the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for
Preferred Stock or securities convertible into Preferred Stock at less than the
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 quarterly cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred
Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
above). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price.
At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes
an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50%
or more of the outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or its affiliates and
associates, 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 series of the Company's preferred stock having
equivalent preferences, limitations and relative rights), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
In general, at any time until a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company
may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.0001 per Right
(payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the
only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $.0001 redemption
price.
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Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as
a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote
or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be
taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the
Rights as set forth above.
Prior to the Distribution Date, any of the provisions of the Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to
correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of any Acquiring Person or affiliate or associate of such Acquiring
Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement; provided that no amendment may be made at such time
as the Rights are not redeemable.
The Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.01 and
is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 4.01.
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ITEM 2. EXHIBITS.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
----------- ----------------------
<S> <C>
4.01 Amended and Restated Rights
Agreement dated as of November 5,
1999 and amended and restated as
of May 4, 2000 between Quintiles
Transnational Corp. and First
Union National Bank, including the
form of Articles of Amendment of
Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Company, the
form of Rights Certificate and the
Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock, attached thereto
as Exhibits A, B and C,
respectively.
</TABLE>
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature appears on next page]
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this amendment no. 1 to registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly
authorized.
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
By: /s/ John S. Russell
------------------------------------------
Dated: May 10, 2000 John S. Russell
Senior Vice President
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
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<S> <C>
4.01 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of
November 5, 1999 and amended and restated as of May 4, 2000
between Quintiles Transnational Corp. and First Union National
Bank, including the form of Articles of Amendment of Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, the form
of Rights Certificate and the Summary of Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock, attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C,
respectively.
</TABLE>
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===============================================================================
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
between
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
and
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Rights Agent
Dated as of November 5, 1999 and Amended and Restated as of May 4, 2000
===============================================================================
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions...................................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent...........................................................................6
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.......................................................................6
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates...........................................................................8
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.....................................................................8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.........................................................9
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.........................................9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates..................................................11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock; Registration of Securities............................12
Section 10. Capital Stock Record Date............................................................................13
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights..........................13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares...........................................20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger, or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power................................21
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares..............................................................23
Section 15. Rights of Action.....................................................................................24
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders..........................................................................25
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder...................................................25
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent..........................................................................26
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent............................................26
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent...............................................................................27
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent...............................................................................29
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates..................................................................30
Section 23. Redemption and Termination...........................................................................30
Section 24. Exchange.............................................................................................31
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.............................................................................32
Section 26. Notices..............................................................................................33
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments...........................................................................33
Section 28. Successors...........................................................................................33
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc............................................33
Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement...........................................................................35
Section 31. Severability.........................................................................................35
Section 32. Governing Law........................................................................................35
Section 33. Counterparts.........................................................................................35
Section 34. Descriptive Headings.................................................................................35
EXHIBIT A - Articles of Amendment...............................................................................A-1
EXHIBIT B - Form of Rights Certificate..........................................................................B-1
EXHIBIT C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock.......................................................C-1
</TABLE>
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AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 5, 1999 and
amended and restated as of May 4, 2000 (this "Agreement"), between QUINTILES
TRANSNATIONAL CORP., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and First
Union National Bank, a national banking association (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution of one Right (as such term is hereinafter defined) for each share
of common stock, $.01 par value per share of the Company (the "Common Stock"),
outstanding at the Close of Business on November 15, 1999 (the "Record Date"),
and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may be hereinafter
adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(p) hereof) for each share of
Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date and the Distribution
Date (as such term is hereinafter defined) and as otherwise provided herein,
each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth
(1/1,000) of a share of Preferred Stock (as such term is hereinafter defined),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (each a
"Right" and collectively the "Rights");
WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent entered into a Rights
Agreement dated as of November 5, 1999 (the "Original Rights Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, on May 4, 2000
the Board of Directors of the Company authorized this Agreement which amends and
restates the Original Rights Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such
term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as
such term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is
hereinafter defined) of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any
Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, (iii) any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan or (iv) a Grandfathered Person (as such
term is hereinafter defined), unless a Grandfathered Person after 12:01 A.M.,
North Carolina time, on the date of this Agreement becomes the Beneficial Owner
of more than the Grandfathered Percentage (as such term is hereinafter defined)
of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided,
however, that if a Grandfathered Person after 12:01 A.M., North Carolina time,
on the date of this Agreement files a Schedule 13D (or comparable or successor
form or report) under the Exchange Act disclosing that the Grandfathered Person
holds the Common Stock for any purpose of, or with the effect of, changing or
influencing the control, management or policies of the Company, or in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction under Rule 13d-3(b)
under the Exchange Act and the Grandfathered Person's Beneficial Ownership of
Common Stock equals fifteen percent (15%) or more, then the Grandfathered
Person shall become an Acquiring Person. 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 15% or more (or in the case of the Grandfathered Person, more
than the Grandfathered Percentage) of the Common Stock of the
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Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more (or in the case of the Grandfathered Person,
more than the Grandfathered Percentage) of the shares of Common Stock of the
Company then outstanding by reason of such an acquisition by the Company and
shall, after such acquisition, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional
shares of Common Stock, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring
Person." In addition, 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.
(b) "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(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 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, has the
right or obligation to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time)
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of
conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, 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) at any time prior
to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, securities issuable
upon exercise of the Rights, or (C) from and after the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, securities issuable upon
exercise of Rights which were acquired by such Person or any
of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22
hereof (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i)
hereof in connection with an adjustment made with respect to
any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the
right to vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of
(as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act and any successor
provision thereof), including pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security
under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement,
arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such
agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely
from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or
consent
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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 reportable by such
Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or comparable
or successor form or report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or
Associate thereof) with which such Person (or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), but
excluding customary agreements with and between underwriters
and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities until the expiration of forty (40)
days after the date of such acquisition, 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.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a
Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of North
Carolina 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., North Carolina time, on such date; provided, however, that if such
date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., North Carolina time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Closing Price" shall mean for each day the last
sale price or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the securities in
question are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the securities in question are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
securities in question are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of
the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
System ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
securities in question are not quoted by any such organization, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company and making a market in the
securities in question. If on any such date no market maker is making a market
in the securities in question, the fair value of such securities on such date
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be
used.
(h) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $.01 par
value per share, 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.
(i) "common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning
specified in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
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(j) "current market price" shall have the meaning
specified in Section 11(d) hereof.
(k) "Current Value" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(l) "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i)
the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day 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 day as may be
determined by the Company's Board of Directors) after the date of the
commencement of, or the first public announcement of the intent to commence (as
determined pursuant to Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act in effect on the date of this Agreement), 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 or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan), if upon consummation thereof, such
Person would be an Acquiring Person (including any such date which is after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights), in either
instance other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.
(m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall mean the earliest of (i) the
Close of Business on the tenth anniversary of the Record Date (the "Final
Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided
in Section 23 hereof, or (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged
pursuant to Section 24 hereof.
(o) "Grandfathered Percentage" shall mean the greater of
(i) twenty percent (20%) of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding and
(ii) the percentage of shares of Common Stock then outstanding beneficially
owned by the Grandfathered Person as of 12:01 A.M., North Carolina time, on the
date of this Agreement.
(p) "Grandfathered Person" shall mean any Person who or
which is the Beneficial Owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the shares of
Common Stock of the Company as of 12:01 A.M., North Carolina time, on the date
of this Agreement and who or which has reported or is required to report (and
thereafter timely reports) such ownership on
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Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor form or
report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor form or report) which Schedule 13D does not disclose that such Person
acquired or holds shares of the Company for the purpose of, or with the effect
of, changing or influencing the control, management or policies of the Company
or engaging in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of Schedule 13D (or any
comparable or successor item, form or report) (other than the disposition of
shares). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a
Grandfathered Person shall cease to be a Grandfathered Person in the event that
at any time, after 12:01 A.M., North Carolina time, on the date of this
Agreement, a Grandfathered Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of less than
fifteen percent (15%) of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then
outstanding.
(q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
association, trust, or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger
or otherwise) of such entity.
(r) "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company having the rights and
preferences set forth in the form of the Articles of Amendment attached to this
Agreement as Exhibit A, and to the extent necessary to permit the full exercise
of the then outstanding Rights, any other series of preferred stock of the
Company designated by the Board of Directors of the Company for such purposes
containing terms substantially similar to the Series A Preferred Stock.
(s) "Preferred Stock Fraction" shall mean one
one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Preferred Stock.
(t) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 13(b) hereof.
(u) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4(a) hereof and Section 7(b) hereof, as modified by Section 11(a)(ii)
and Section 13(a) hereof.
(v) "Qualified Offer" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(w) "Record Date" shall have the meaning specified in
the first Whereas clause hereof.
(x) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 23(a) hereof.
(y) "Rights Certificate" shall have the meaning
specified in Section 3(a) hereof.
(z) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(aa) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the
meaning specified in Section 11(a)(iii).
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(bb) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(cc) "Securities Act" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9(c) hereof.
(dd) "Spread" shall have the meaning specified 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 or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under
the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person, that an Acquiring
Person has become such, other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.
(ff) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any
Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership
interests having ordinary voting power, in the absence of contingencies, to
elect at least a majority of the directors or other persons performing similar
functions, is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or
otherwise controlled by such Person.
(gg) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning
specified in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(hh) "Summary of Rights" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 3(b) hereof.
(ii) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the securities in question are
listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if
such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, a Business Day.
(jj) "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.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates. (a) Until the
Distribution Date, (x) the Rights will be evidenced 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 with and only 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, 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 (each a
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"Rights Certificate" and, collectively, 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 Rights 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) The Company will make available a copy of a Summary of
Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Summary of
Rights"), to any holder of Rights who may so request from time to time. With
respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date
or issued subsequent to 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. 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.
(c) Subject to Section 22 hereof, Rights shall be issued in
respect of all shares of Common Stock which are outstanding on the Record Date
and which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such shares
of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights and shall
(as soon as practicable following the Record Date) bear the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder
hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement
between Quintiles Transnational Corp. (the "Company") and
First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent, dated as of
November 5, 1999 (as it may be amended, modified or
supplemented 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 Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf
of such person or by any subsequent holder of such Rights,
shall 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 the registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
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Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. (a) The Rights
Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall 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 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 be dated as of the
Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase
such number of Preferred Stock Fractions as shall be set forth therein at the
exercise price therefor set forth therein (such exercise price per Preferred
Stock Fraction, 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(a), Section 11(i) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially
owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring
Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or
(iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or
Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring
Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer
(whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of
equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such
Acquiring Person has any plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the
Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, agreement,
arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) which has as a primary
purpose or effect the 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 shall become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.
The provisions of Section 7(e) of this Agreement shall be operative whether or
not the foregoing legend is contained on any such Rights Certificates.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. (a) The Rights
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or any Vice President, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof, and shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the
Company. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of
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<PAGE> 11
the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to
be such officer of the Company before counter-signature by the Rights Agent and
issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless,
may be countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the
Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such
Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any
Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at
the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent
will keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as
the appropriate place for the surrender of the 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 certificate number of
each of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by
each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of
Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14
hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and
at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights
Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights
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 Preferred Stock
Fractions (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 entitles 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 at the principal office or offices 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, split up, combination
or exchange of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered
holder thereof shall have completed and signed the form of assignment and
related certificate set forth 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), Section 14 and Section 24 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
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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
related certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights
Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the
total number of the Preferred Stock Fractions (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 Expiration Date.
(b) The Purchase Price for each Preferred Stock Fraction
pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be One Hundred Fifty
Dollars ($150.00), and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
provided in Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in
lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c)
below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate
contained therein duly executed, accompanied by payment with respect to each
Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price per Preferred Stock Fraction (or
other 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 Preferred Stock Fractions to be purchased
and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with
all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the
total number of 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 Preferred Stock Fractions 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 will direct the depositary agent to
comply with such request, (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) shall be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank
draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is
obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company,
pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the
Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities,
cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent,
if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to require, prior to
the
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occurrence of a Triggering Event, that upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be
issued.
(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 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
the Acquiring Person has any plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding
(whether or not in writing) regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer
which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of any plan,
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) which has as
a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become
null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall
thereupon have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under
any provision of this Agreement or otherwise from and after such occurrence. The
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this
Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no
liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or any other Person as a result
of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or
its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the
form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights
Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional
evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner)
or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
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
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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;
Registration of Securities. (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) 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, 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 may be
listed on any national securities exchange or national securities association,
the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as
the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such national securities exchange or association upon official notice
of issuance upon such exercise; provided, however, that the Company shall have
no obligation hereunder to list the shares of Preferred Stock on any national
securities exchange or association.
(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, if required by law, the Distribution Date, a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of
the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such
registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the
date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and
(B) the date of the expiration of the Rights. 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. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a
registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company
may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a
registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such
jurisdiction has not been obtained, the exercise thereof is not permitted under
applicable law or a registration statement has not been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take
all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Stock
Fractions (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock
and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of the
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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 which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of Preferred Stock
Fractions (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon
the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any
transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a
number of Preferred Stock Fractions (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 Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for transfer or
exercise, or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of Preferred
Stock Fractions (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. Capital Stock Record Date. Each Person in whose name
any certificate for a number of Preferred Stock Fractions (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 Preferred Stock Fractions (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 Fraction (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 on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business
Day on which the Preferred Stock Fraction (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 shall not be entitled to any rights of a shareholder of the Company
with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including,
without limitation, the right to vote, to receive 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
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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, such holder would have owned upon such
exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such
dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both
this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in
addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the
event any Person shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person, unless the event
causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof, or is an
acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender
offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares of
Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors, who are not
officers of the Company and who are not representatives,
nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person,
after receiving advice from one or more investment banking
firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair and adequate to
shareholders (taking into account all factors which such
members of the Board of Directors of the Company deem relevant
including, without limitation, the long-term prospects and
value of the Company and 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 (including the possibility that these
interests may best be served by the continued independence of
the Company) of the Company and its shareholders (a "Qualified
Offer"), then, promptly following the 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, upon exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of Preferred
Stock Fractions, such number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying
the then current Purchase Price by the then number of
Preferred Stock Fractions 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 fifty percent (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 being referred to herein as the
"Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of
Common Stock which is authorized by the Company's articles of
incorporation but not outstanding or
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<PAGE> 17
reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise
of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing
subparagraph (ii) 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 essentially the same value or economic rights as shares
of Common Stock (such shares, "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 (less the amount of any reduction
to the Purchase Price), 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, that if the Company shall not have made
adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B)
above within thirty (30) days following the first occurrence
of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (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 determine 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 thirty
(30) day period, as it may be extended, being referred to
herein as the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the
Company determines that some action is to 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 shareholder approval for such 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 each
Adjustment Share shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of
Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the
per share or per unit value of any "common stock equivalent"
shall be deemed to equal the current market price per share
of the Common Stock on such date.
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<PAGE> 18
(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 subscribe 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 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 so to be offered for subscription or purchase (or
into which the convertible securities 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 determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with
the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of
the Rights. 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 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 Directors of the Company, whose determination
shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) 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. 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.
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<PAGE> 19
(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 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 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.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall
be determined hereof the same manner as set forth above for
the Common Stock in Section 11(d)(i) hereof. 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 Section 1(g) hereof, the "current market price"
per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to
be an amount equal to one thousand (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 Common
Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is
publicly held or 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 of the Company, 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 a Preferred Stock Fraction shall be equal to the
"current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock
divided by one thousand (1,000).
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would
require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a
share of Common Stock or other share or one one-millionth of a share of
Preferred Stock, 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.
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<PAGE> 20
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to
Section 11(a) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter
exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other
than Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable
upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in
Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m) hereof, 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 shares; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable for its inability to reserve and keep
available for issuance upon exercise of the Rights pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) a number of shares of Common Stock greater than the number then
authorized by the articles of incorporation of the Company but not outstanding
or reserved for other purposes.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company
subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of
Preferred Stock Fractions purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise
of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election
as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
Preferred Stock Fractions (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred Stock Fractions covered by a Right
immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing
the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of Preferred Stock Fractions 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 Preferred Stock
Fractions for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such
adjustment, at the adjusted Purchase Price. 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 ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10)
days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates
have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this
Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be
distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date
Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional
Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment,
or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders
of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by
such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
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<PAGE> 21
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates
evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Rights Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the
option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in
the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the
Purchase Price or the number of Preferred Stock Fractions issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per Preferred Stock Fraction
and the number of Preferred Stock Fractions which were expressed in the initial
Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an
adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any,
attributable to the number of Preferred Stock Fractions issuable upon exercise
of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable such a number of Preferred Stock
Fractions 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 Preferred Stock Fractions and other capital stock or
securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above
the number of Preferred Stock Fractions 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 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 the Board of Directors of the Company, in
its good faith judgment, shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii)
issuance wholly for cash of any 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 shareholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not,
at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person
(other than with a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which does not
violate the provisions of Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than with a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction
which does not violate the provisions of Section 11(o) hereof) or engage in a
share exchange with any other Person or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction or a series of related
transactions, assets, earning power or cash
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<PAGE> 22
flow aggregating more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets, earning power or
cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other
Person or Persons (other than to the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in
one or more transactions each of which does not violate the provisions of
Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such
consolidation, merger, share exchange or sale, there are any rights, warrants
or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which
would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately
after such consolidation, merger, share exchange or sale, the shareholders of
the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for
purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights
previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Stock Acquisition Date, it will not,
except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any
Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is
reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or
otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a 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 total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event, and the
denominator of which shall be the total 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) if a
Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of
a Rights Certificate 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 obligated or responsible for
calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of any such
adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger, Share Exchange, Sale or
Transfer of Assets, Earning Power or Cash Flow. (a) In the event that,
following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a
20
<PAGE> 23
transaction which 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 which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or
into, the Company, or the Company shall engage in a share exchange with any
Person, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation, merger or share exchange and, in connection with such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, 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, 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, earning power or cash flow aggregating more than fifty
percent (50%) of the assets, earning power or cash flow of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of
which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in each such case (except
as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper provision shall be made
so that:
(i) each holder of a Right (other than Rights that
theretofore became null and void pursuant to 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 (or, if any Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, at the Purchase Price
in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event), such number of validly authorized and issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the
Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), free and clear
of 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 Preferred Stock
Fractions 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 Preferred Stock Fractions 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 fifty percent (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
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<PAGE> 24
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) hereof, 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, or for
which such shares of Common Stock of the Company are exchanged in such
share exchange, 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) hereof, the Person that is
the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets, earning power
or cash flow 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; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stock 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.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation,
merger, share exchange, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have
sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock not reserved for
other purposes to permit the full exercise 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, share exchange, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in
paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the Principal Party at its own expense will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the
Securities Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and
will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A)
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B)
remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;
(ii) take all such other action as may be necessary to
enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon
exercise of the Rights,
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including but not limited to the registration or qualification of such
securities under all requisite securities laws of jurisdictions of the
various states and the listing of such securities on such exchanges
and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate and the
securing of any regulatory approvals which may be required; and
(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical
financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its
Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers,
consolidations or share exchanges or sales or other transfers. In the event
that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised
shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a)
hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
this Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses
(x) and (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a) hereof if (i) such
transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired shares of
Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer for all outstanding
shares of Common Stock which is a Qualified Offer as such term is defined in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or
Persons), (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered 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 tender
offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to
the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such transaction is
the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or
exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this
Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. (a) The
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the
Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to distribute Rights
Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional
Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of 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, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked
prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other
system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any
such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
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as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company
shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than integral multiples of Preferred Stock
Fractions) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than integral multiples of
Preferred Stock Fractions). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock
that are not Preferred Stock Fractions or integral multiples thereof, the
Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market price of a share of Preferred Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market price of one share of
Preferred Stock shall be 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 may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time
such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the
same fraction of the current market price of one share of Common Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market price of one share of Common
Stock shall be the Closing Price of a 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 such Right,
expressly waives such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any
fractional shares (other than, in the case of Preferred Stock, integral
multiples of Preferred Stock Fractions) 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 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 such holder's own behalf
and for such holder's benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any
suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in
respect of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, certificates for Common Stock)
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.
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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 principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates 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 (notwithstanding 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 have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or
otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder.
No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote,
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of
Preferred Stock Fractions 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 evidenced by either a certificate for
Common Stock or by any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors
or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, as the
case may be, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such certificate for
Common Stock or Rights Certificate, as the case may be, 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
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<PAGE> 28
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its directors, officers, employees
and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability,
or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct
on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights
Agent or such other indemnified party in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement or the performance of the Rights Agent's
duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any
claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in
respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement or the performance of the Rights Agent's
duties hereunder 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
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
(c) The indemnity provided in this Section 18 shall
survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.
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 successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent
shall be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have
been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so
countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall
not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such
cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes
the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights
Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
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(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who
may be legal counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights
Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance
with such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact
or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person
or any Affiliate or Associate thereof and the determination of "current market
price") be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering
any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer
or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such
certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken 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
responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution
and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery 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 actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder
be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or
reservation of any 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
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<PAGE> 30
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or
the Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any
action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while awaiting
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement
and the date on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission
shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken
by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in
any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which
shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any officer of the
Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have
consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such
action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent
shall have received written instructions in response to such application
specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director,
officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the
Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in
any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or
lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other
legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the
rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either
itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not
be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, the Rights Agent was
not grossly negligent in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the
Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise
of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment
of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate
surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, split up, combination
or exchange, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of
election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or
indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof, the Rights
Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise
or transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(l) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties
and obligations imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
Section 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'
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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 such holder's 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 or other legal business entity organized, doing
business and in good standing under the laws of the United States or of the
State of North Carolina (or of any other state of the United States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business in the State of North Carolina),
having a principal office in the State of North Carolina, 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 any such corporation or
other legal business entity described in clause (a) above. 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 or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the
registered holders of shares of Common Stock. 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 Certificates to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind
or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights
Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In
addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock
following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of
the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so
issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon
the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company
hereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case,
if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company,
issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in
connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such
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<PAGE> 32
Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company
shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk
of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall
be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise
have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination. (a) Subject to Section 27
hereof, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to the date on which a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs, redeem all but not
less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.0001 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"). The
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common
Stock (based on the "current market price," as defined in Section 11(d)(i)
hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of
consideration, or any combination of any of the foregoing, deemed appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of
which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further
action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the
Redemption Price 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.
Section 24. Exchange. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company
may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which
shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7(e) hereof) for 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").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
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<PAGE> 33
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 fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of
Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without
any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only
right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of
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 Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common
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 paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for
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 stock splits, stock
dividends or other similar transactions effected after the date hereof.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient
Common 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 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 of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to 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 shares of any class of stock 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
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<PAGE> 34
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, merger or share exchange
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 fifty percent (50%) of the assets, earning power or cash flow 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
reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, 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 any Section 11(a)(ii) Event shall occur,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter
give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible, and in
accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event
which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all references in the preceding
paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer 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 Certificates 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:
Quintiles Transnational Corp.
4709 Creekstone Drive
Riverbirch Building, Suite 300
Durham, North Carolina 27703
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.
2500 First Union Capitol Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Attention: Gerald F. Roach
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<PAGE> 35
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any
Rights Certificates to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or
made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another
address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
First Union National Bank
1525 West W.T. Harris Boulevard, 3C3
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153
Attention: Shareholder Services Group
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 representing
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. Prior to the Distribution
Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs,
supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to change or supplement the provisions
hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and
which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights
Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an
Acquiring Person), or (iv) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder;
provided, however, from and after the Distribution Date, this Agreement may not
be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iv) of this
sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such
time as the Rights are not then redeemable, 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. 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. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, (i) this Agreement may not be amended
at a time when the Rights are not redeemable and (ii) no supplement or amendment
that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement
shall be effective without the consent of the Rights Agent.
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.
33
<PAGE> 36
Section 29. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors,
etc. For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of
determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock
of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with
the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the
exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all
rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or the Company, or as may be
necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement and any determination as to whether
actions of any Person shall be such as to cause such Person to beneficially own
shares held by another Person). All such actions, calculations, interpretations
and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions
with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board of Directors
of the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the
Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and
(y) not subject the Board of Directors 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;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such
court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing
the invalid, void or unenforceable language from this Agreement would adversely
affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set
forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the
Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by
the Board of Directors of the Company.
34
<PAGE> 37
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 North Carolina 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 and without
regard to conflicts of laws principles.
Section 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank;
signatures appear on next page.]
35
<PAGE> 38
[Signature page to Quintiles Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
By: /s/ John S. Russell
-----------------------------
Name: John S. Russell
Title: Senior Vice President
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By: /s/ Frances S. Beam
-----------------------------
Name: Frances S. Beam
Title: Vice President
36
<PAGE> 39
EXHIBIT A
State of North Carolina
Department of the Secretary of State
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
Pursuant to Section 55-10-06 and Section 55-6-02 of the General Statutes of
North Carolina, the undersigned corporation hereby submits the following
Articles of Amendment for the purpose of amending its Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation to fix the preferences, limitations, and relative
rights of a series of its shares:
I. The name of the corporation is Quintiles Transnational Corp.
II. The text of the amendment adopted is as follows:
The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the corporation
are hereby amended as follows:
Article IV of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is
amended by inserting the following new Section 4.4 at the end of the existing
provisions of Article IV:
Section 4.4. Series A Preferred Stock. A series of Preferred Stock
of the Corporation is hereby created and the designation and amount thereof and
the preferences, relative rights, and powers of the shares of such series, and
the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, are fixed, determined
and set forth as follows:
Section 4.4.1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series
shall be designated as "Series A Preferred Stock," $.01 par value per share,
and the number of shares constituting such series shall be one million
(1,000,000). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by action 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 4.4.2. 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 and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June,
September and December in each
A-1
<PAGE> 40
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, one
thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends,
and one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind)
of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable
in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since
the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to
the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise
than payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior
to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or
distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of
this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the
Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock);
provided 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 sixty
(60) days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
A-2
<PAGE> 41
Section 4.4.3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter
set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to one thousand (1,000) votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
shareholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than a
payment of dividend in shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number
of shares of Common Stock), then in each such case the number of votes per
share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any articles
of amendment to articles of incorporation of the Corporation, 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 shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided
by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights
and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
Section 4.4.4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in Section
4.4.2 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
A-3
<PAGE> 42
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 4.4.4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time
and in such manner.
Section 4.4.5. 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 articles of amendment of articles of incorporation of the
Corporation, or as otherwise required by law.
Section 4.4.6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (i) 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 $100 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 one thousand (1,000) times the aggregate amount
to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock or (ii) to the
holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such
parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all
such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In
the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the
Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common
Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each
such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (i) 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.
A-4
<PAGE> 43
Section 4.4.7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation
shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination, share exchange or
other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or
changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in
any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share (subject to the
provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to one thousand (1,000)
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property
(payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any
time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than
payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser
number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth
in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
Section 4.4.8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred
Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 4.4.9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank junior
to all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series
shall provide otherwise.
Section 4.4.10. Amendment. The Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be further amended in any manner
which would materially alter or change the preferences, rights or powers of the
Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) or more of the outstanding
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting separately as a single class.
Section 4.4.11. 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 to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.
III. The foregoing amendment was duly adopted and approved on the
4th day of November 1999, by the board of directors without shareholder action,
which was not required because the amendment only fixes the preferences,
limitations and relative rights of a series of the corporation's preferred
stock pursuant to authority granted to the directors by the corporation's
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Section 55-6-02 of the
General Statutes of North Carolina.
IV. These articles shall be effective upon filing.
A-5
<PAGE> 44
[Signature page to Quintiles Preferred Stock Charter Amendment]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the corporation has caused this instrument to be
duly executed as of the _____ day of November, 1999.
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
A-6
<PAGE> 45
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- __________ __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT REFERRED TO BELOW). THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT
THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $.0001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN
ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH
RIGHTS SHALL 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 SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.](1)
Rights Certificate
QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
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 November 5, 1999 and amended and restated as
of May 4, 2000 (as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to
time, the "Rights Agreement"), between Quintiles Transnational Corp., a North
Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and First Union National Bank, a national
banking association (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any
time prior to 5:00 P.M. (North Carolina time) on the Expiration Date (as such
term is defined in the Rights Agreement), which shall not be later than November
15, 2009, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a
fully paid, nonassessable share of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock, $.01
par value per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of One Hundred
Fifty Dollars ($150.00) (the "Purchase Price") per one one-thousandth (1/1,000)
of a share of Preferred Stock (such fraction, a "Preferred Stock Fraction"),
upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of
Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights
evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be
purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price per
share set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of
_________________, 19__ (2), based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such
date and may be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Rights
Agreement. The Company reserves the right to require, prior to the occurrence of
a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), that a
number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will
be issued.
- -------------
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable
and shall replace the preceding sentences.
(2) Insert the Distribution Date.
B-1
<PAGE> 46
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate
or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or
Associate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, 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 Triggering 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 office of the Rights Agent as
set forth in the Rights Agreement and are also available upon written request
to the Rights Agent.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or
Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the
holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Stock Fractions as the
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase. The Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate may be transferred, in whole or in part, upon surrender of
this Rights Certificates at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose, with the form of Assignment and related
Certificate duly executed. If the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
shall be transferred or 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 transferred or exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may generally be redeemed by the Company at its
option at a redemption price of $.0001 per Right at any time before a Section
11(a)(ii) Event occurs.
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 (1/1,000) 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.
B-2
<PAGE> 47
No holder of this Rights Certificate 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal.
Dated as of __________, 19__.
ATTEST: QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
By: By:
-------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
[RIGHTS AGENT]
By:
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
B-3
<PAGE> 48
[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: ______________________, 19__
-------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed: ______________________
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold,
assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: _________________, 19__ -------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed: ___________________________
NOTICE
The signature(s) 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.
B-4
<PAGE> 49
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if the holder desires to exercise Rights represented
by the Rights Certificate.)
To: QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
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 print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: _________________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
Please insert social security
or other identifying number: _________________________________________________
Dated: __________________, 19__
----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------
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<PAGE> 50
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ]
are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms
are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the
undersigned, it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ______________, 19__
----------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------
NOTICE
The signature(s) 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.
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<PAGE> 51
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED STOCK
On November 4, 1999 the Board of Directors of Quintiles Transnational
Corp., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), declared a dividend
distribution of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each
outstanding share of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock") to
shareholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 1999 (the
"Record Date"). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the
Company one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share (a "Preferred Stock Fraction")
of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") at a price of
$150.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement
between the Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent (as it may
be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Rights
Agreement").
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing the outstanding shares, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in
the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
"Distribution Date" will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or, in the case of the Grandfathered Person referred to in the
Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership of a percentage of outstanding Common
Stock in excess of the Grandfathered Percentage referred to therein (the date
of such announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date") other than as a result
of repurchases of stock by the Company or certain inadvertent actions by
certain shareholders, or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the
Company's Board of Directors shall determine) following the commencement of a
tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming
an Acquiring Person (which, in the case of the Grandfathered Person, occurs
upon beneficial ownership of a percentage of outstanding Common Stock in excess
of the Grandfathered Percentage).
Until the Distribution Date, (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 will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated
with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, 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, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except as otherwise determined by
the Board of Directors, and except in connection with the exercise of stock
options and any other issuances of Common Stock with respect to awards under
employee benefit plans, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on November 15, 2009, North Carolina time,
unless extended prior to such time by the Board of Directors, or earlier if
redeemed by the Company as described below.
Except in the circumstances described below, after the Distribution
Date each Right will be exercisable for a Preferred Stock Fraction. Each
Preferred Stock Fraction carries voting and dividend rights that are intended
to produce the equivalent of one share of Common Stock. The voting and dividend
rights of the Preferred Stock are subject to adjustment in the event of
dividends, subdivisions and combinations with respect to the Common Stock of
the Company. In lieu of issuing certificates for fractions of shares of
Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of Preferred
Stock Fractions), the Company may pay cash in accordance with the Rights
Agreement.
In the event that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, except
pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the
independent directors, who are not associated with an Acquiring Person,
determine to be fair and adequate to shareholders and to be otherwise in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders (a "Qualified Offer"), each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise,
Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities
of the Company) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the
events described in this paragraph, any Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by
any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date,
(i) the Company engages in a merger or other business combination transaction
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages
in a merger or other business combination transaction with another person in
which the Company is the surviving corporation, but its Common Stock is changed
or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company's assets, earning power or
cash flow is sold or transferred (except with respect to clauses (i) and (ii),
a merger or other business combination which follows a fair offer described in
the second preceding paragraph and in which the amount and form of
consideration is the same as was paid in such offer), 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, common stock of the
acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the
Right.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Stock
Fractions 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 the Preferred Stock or other capital stock, or a
subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Preferred Stock, (ii) if
the holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain rights or warrants to
subscribe for Preferred Stock or securities convertible into Preferred Stock at
less than the 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 quarterly cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase
Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of
the Purchase Price.
At any time after a person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person
or group of 50% or more of the
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<PAGE> 53
outstanding Common Stock, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other
than Rights owned by such person or its affiliates and associates, 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
series of the Corporation's preferred stock having equivalent preferences,
limitations and relative rights), per Right (subject to adjustment).
In general, at any time until a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.0001
per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors). Immediately upon the action of the Board
of Directors of the Company ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will
terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the
$.0001 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights
will not be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that
the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the
Company, or for common stock of the acquiring company or in the event of the
redemption of the Rights as set forth above.
Prior to the Distribution Date, any of the provisions of the Rights
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any defective or
inconsistent provision, to make changes which do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person
or affiliate or associate of such Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen
any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided that no amendment may be
made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is being filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form 8-A and/or an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. 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.
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