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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
For Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 41-1569659
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(State or incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
6130 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 932-4000
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box. [ ]
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is to
become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box. [ ]
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. [ ]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this Form relates:
_________________ (if applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Not Applicable
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
(Title of Class)
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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
On November 3, 1998, the Board of Directors of Ancor Communications,
Incorporated (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") per share for each outstanding share of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is
payable to shareholders of record on November 10, 1998 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of
$20.00 per one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of November 3, 1998, between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N. A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates representing
Common Shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates will be
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, and a Distribution
Date for the Rights will occur, upon the earlier of: (i) the tenth day after the
first date of public announcement that a Person or group of affiliated or
associated Persons has become an "Acquiring Person" (i.e., has become, subject
to certain exceptions, the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (other than as a result of a Permitted Offer and subject to
certain exceptions)) and (ii) the close of business on the 10th day following
the commencement or public announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer, the
consummation of which would result in a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons becoming an Acquiring Person.
A "Permitted Offer" is a tender offer or an exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary and giving due
consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares,
(ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or
new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
Common Share certificate, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary
of Rights attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common
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Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, and such separate
Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on November 3, 2008, unless extended or earlier redeemed or exchanged by
the Company as described below. No fraction of a Preferred Share (other than
fractions in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) will be issued
and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the closing
price on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
The Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent
dilution: (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination
or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of
the Preferred Shares of certain rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or
purchase Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less than the then
current market price o the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets
(excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred
Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those described in
clause (ii) of this paragraph). With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the
Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an
adjustment of at least 1% in the Purchase Price.
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the
Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are subject
to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Shares or a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares.
In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then
current aggregate exercise price, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of
Common Shares of the Company having a current aggregate market price equal to
twice the current aggregate exercise price. In
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the event that at any time after there is an Acquiring Person the Company is
acquired in certain mergers or other business combination transactions or 50% or
more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken
as a whole) are sold, holders of the Rights will thereafter have the Right to
receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current aggregate exercise price,
such number of Common Shares of the acquiring company (or, in certain cases, one
of its affiliates) having a current aggregate market price equal to twice the
current aggregate exercise price.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to certain
exceptions), and prior to the acquisition by a Person of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
all or part of the Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share per right, subject to adjustment.
At any time before a Person has become an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), subject to adjustment. The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
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.
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2. EXHIBITS
1. Rights Agreement, dated as of November 3, 1998, between the Company
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent, which includes as
Exhibit B thereto the form of Right Certificate.
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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 registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
November 4, 1998 ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
By /s/ Kenneth E. Hendrickson
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Kenneth E. Hendrickson
Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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1 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 3, 1998, between the Company
and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Rights Agent, which includes as
Exhibit B thereto the form of Right Certificate.
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EXHIBIT 1
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ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
and
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N. A.,
Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 3, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent 4
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates 4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates 5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration 6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Right Certificates 6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date
of Rights 7
Section 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates 8
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares 8
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date 9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or
Number of Rights 10
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number
of Shares 16
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets
or Earning Power 17
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares 20
Section 15. Rights of Action 21
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders 21
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder 22
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent 22
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of
Rights Agent 23
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent 23
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent 25
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Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates 26
Section 23. Redemption 26
Section 24. Exchange 27
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events 28
Section 26. Notices 29
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments 29
Section 28. Successors 30
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement 30
Section 30. Severability 30
Section 31. Governing Law 30
Section 32. Counterparts 30
Section 33. Descriptive Headings 30
Signatures 35
Exhibit A -- Certificate of Designations of Series D Junior
Participating Preferred Stock
Exhibit B -- Form of Right Certificates
Exhibit C -- Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of November 3, 1998, between Ancor Communications,
Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), and Norwest Bank
Minnesota, N. A. (the "Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
of the Company outstanding at the Close of Business on November 10, 1998 (the
"Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set
forth, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with
respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which, together with
all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner
of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Common Shares then outstanding
other than as a result of a Permitted Offer, but shall not include any
Exempt Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an
"Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the
Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to the
Threshold Percentage or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the
Beneficial Owner of the Threshold Percentage or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company
and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, increase the number
of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Person above the
number of Common Shares of the Company beneficially owned by such Person at
the time of the last such share purchase by the Company, then such Person
shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person." Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a
Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person", as defined pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, has become such inadvertently,
and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of
Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person",
as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, then
such Person shall not be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" for any
purposes of this Agreement.
"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.
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A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and shall be deemed to
"beneficially own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, including
without limitation securities with respect to which such Person or any
such Person's Affiliates or Associates has "beneficial ownership"
pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act, as in effect on the date of this Agreement;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary
agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members
with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon
the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than
these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to
beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange
offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted
for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a
Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially
own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to
vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent
given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent
solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or
understanding (other than customary agreements with and between
underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding,
voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to clause
(ii)(B) above) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the
contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the
number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which
such Person would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.
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"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in the State of Minnesota are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., prevailing
Minneapolis time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not
a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., prevailing Minneapolis time, on
the next succeeding Business Day.
"Common Shares," when used with reference to the Company, shall mean
the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.
"Common Shares," when used with reference to any Person other than the
Company, shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the
greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a
Subsidiary of any other Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately
control such first mentioned Person.
"Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.
"Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company,
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company, and any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
"Final Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.
"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity,
and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
"Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer or an exchange offer for
all outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary
and giving due consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders.
"Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series D Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights
and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designations
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.
"Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.
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"Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include,
without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act) by the Company or any Person that such Person has become an
Acquiring Person.
"Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity
of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or
equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.
"Threshold Percentage" shall mean 15%.
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, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the
holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement 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. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition
Date or (ii) the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of
the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person) after the date of the commencement by any Person (other than an Exempt
Person) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person
(other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring Person
(the earlier of such dates being referred to herein as the "Distribution Date"),
(x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b)) by
the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders
thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and
not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right
Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfe of Common
Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will
prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will
send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by
first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of
the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder
shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate, in substantially the
form of Exhibit B (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common
Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely
by such Right Certificates.
(b) As soon as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will send a
copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the
form of Exhibit C (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid
mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the
Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
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of the Company. With respect to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Close of Business on the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the
Rights will be evidenced by such certificates registered in the names of the
holders thereof together with a copy of the Summary of Rights. Until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration
Date if occurring prior to the Distribution Date), the surrender for transfer of
any certificate for Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or
without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented
thereby.
(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including,
without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of
this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the
Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have
impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Ancor Communications,
Incorporated and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N. A., dated as of November 3,
1998 (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
executive offices of Ancor Communications, Incorporated. 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. Ancor Communications, Incorporated will mail to the holder of
this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after
receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to any Person who becomes an
Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate thereof (as defined in the
Rights Agreement), or certain transferees of such Person, may become null
and void.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by
such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the
surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are
no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B 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
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with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or
with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or automated quotations system
on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11, the Right Certificates shall entitle
the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share set forth therein (the "Purchase Price"), but the number of such
one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration. The Right Certificates shall
be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief
Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Operating Officer, its Chief
Financial Officer, any of its Vice Presidents or its Treasurer either manually
or by facsimile signature and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right
Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent for purposes of
authorization only and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right
Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before
countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company,
such Right 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 Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer
of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company
by any Person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right
Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right
Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any
such Person was not such an officer.
Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be
kept, at its principal office, books for registration and transfer of the Right
Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of
the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced
on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. Subject
to the provisions of Section 14, at any time after the Close of Business on the
Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of
the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right
Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become
void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled
such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent. Thereupon the Rights
Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Right
Certificate or Right Certificates,
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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 Right
Certificates
Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses
incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of
the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will issue, execute and deliver
a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature
and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights
evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at
any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate,
with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed,
to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one
one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or
prior to the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on November 3, 2008 (the
"Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as
provided in Section 23 (the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the time at which such
Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 (the "Exchange Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $20.00, shall
be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 and
shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance
with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights,
with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of
the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal
to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right
Certificate in accordance with Section 9 by certified check, cashier's check or
money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent for the Preferred
Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for the
Preferred Shares) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares 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 with a depository agent the total number of Preferred Shares issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share as are to be purchased and the Company hereby directs the
depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition
from the Company
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the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14, (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 Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as
may be designated by such holder, and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt,
deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise
less than all of the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to
such holder's duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14.
(e) 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 unless such registered holder shall have (i) duly
completed and executed the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse
side of the Right Certificate surrendered for such exercise and (ii) provided
such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former
Beneficial Owner) of such Right Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof
as the Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation of Right Certificates. All Right Certificates
surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or
exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be
delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if
surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver
all canceled Right Certificates to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its
authorized and unissued Preferred Shares the number of Preferred Shares that
will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
(b) At such time, if any, as the Preferred Shares issuable upon the
exercise of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the
Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely
that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be
listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
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(c) The Company will prepare and file, as soon as practicable after the
Distribution Date, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (i) become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing, and (ii) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times
meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of
which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities or (B) the Final
Expiration Date. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate
under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the
various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company
may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 days after the
date the registration statement is filed, the exercisability of the Rights in
order to permit the registration statement to become effective. Upon any such
suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in
such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or the exercise thereof is not
permitted under applicable law.
(d) The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure
that all Preferred Shares delivered upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time
of delivery of the certificates for such Preferred Shares (subject to payment of
the Purchase Price and any applicable transfer taxes), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
(e) The Company 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 Right Certificates or of any Preferred Shares 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 Right
Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates
or depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of the
registered holder of the Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for
exercise, or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for
Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have
been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at
the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
reasonable satisfaction that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the transfer books of the Company for the Preferred Shares 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
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such transfer books are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced
thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights
of a holder of Preferred 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 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 Shares payable in
Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred
Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification
of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection
with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a),
the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such
dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock
issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder
of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the
aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right
had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would
have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of
such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the
exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right. If an
event occurs which would require an adjustment under both Section 11(a)(i)
and Section 11(a)(ii), the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i)
shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment
required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, unless the event by which such Person became
an Acquiring Person is a transaction described in Section 13(a), each
holder of a Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise
thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by
the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in
lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of the Company as
shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50% of
the then current per share market price of the Company's Common Shares
(determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date that such Person becomes
an Acquiring Person. In the event that any Person shall become an Acquiring
Person and the Rights shall then be
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outstanding, the Company shall not take any action which would eliminate or
diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
From and after the date that such Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
any Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring
Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be
void and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to
exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right
Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void
pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof;
no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any
Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the
preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or to any nominee
of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate
delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person whose
Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be canceled.
(iii) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in
accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the Company shall take all
such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after
good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to
authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for
each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a
Right, a number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof such that the
current per share market price (as such term is defined in Section 11(d))
of one Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to
the current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of
issuance of such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights,
options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (such shares are herein
called "preferred share equivalents")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Shares or preferred share equivalents at a price per Preferred Share or
preferred share equivalent (or having a conversion price per share, if a
security convertible into Preferred Shares or preferred share equivalents) less
than the then current per share market price (as such term is defined in Section
11(d)) of the Preferred Shares on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in
effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such
record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering
price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or
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<PAGE>
preferred share equivalents so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the number of
Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional
Preferred Shares and/or preferred share equivalents to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the
aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon
exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be 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. Preferred Shares held for the account of the Company
shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and
in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the
Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in
effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a
distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b)), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date
shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares 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 assets or evidences of
indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants
applicable to one Preferred Share, and the denominator of which shall be such
current per share market price of the Preferred Shares; provided, however, that
in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be
less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company
to be issued upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this
Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive
Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the
event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined
during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security
of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of
such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any
subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to
the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such
dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current
per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to
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<PAGE>
reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or,
in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock
Market or as listed on the principal national securities exchange on which
the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last
quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low
asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System
("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the
Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a
market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
If on any such day no market maker is making a market in the Common Shares,
th fair value of such share on such day as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company shall be used in lieu of the closing
price for such day. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the
principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or
admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the
Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities
exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per
share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in
accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share
market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section
11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split stock dividend
or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one
hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly
held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares 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.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such
adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase
Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section
11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11
shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a
Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the case
may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment
required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
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of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any
Rights.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) and
13(a), the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to
receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred Shares,
thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any
Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms
as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the
Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a) through (c), inclusive, and the
provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares
shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in
Section 11(i), subject to the provisions of Sections 11(a) and 13, upon each
adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in
Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making
of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the
adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share
(calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-hundredths of a share covered by a
Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the
product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such
adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the
Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any
adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable
upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest 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, th 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 Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of
the public announcement. If Right 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 Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject
to Section 14, 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
Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates
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evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such
adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed
and countersigned in the manner provided for herein, 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 Right Certificates on the record date specified in
the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may
continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued
hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the
Purchase Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the
Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment
in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified
event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the
issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the
Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any,
issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares 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 upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in their sole discretion the Board of Directors of the Company
shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or
subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any
Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly
for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible
into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends on Preferred Shares
payable in Preferred Shares or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to
holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such shareholders.
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(n) The Company shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i)
consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge with or into any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any
Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or
earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any
other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries
in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), if (x)
at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are
any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or
agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate
th benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to,
simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the
shareholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal
Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution
of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and
Associates.
(o) The Company, after the Distribution Date, will not, except as permitted
by Section 23, 24 or 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Company 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 or the Rights to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that at any time after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i) declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or (ii) effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, the in any such case (i) the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event
upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number
of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to
such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (ii) each
Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under Section
11(a)(ii) and this Section 11(p), the adjustment provided for in this Section
11(p) shall be in addition and prior to any adjustment required pursuant to
Section 11(a)(ii).
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13, the Company
shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, and a
brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the
Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or
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the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary
thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after there is an
Acquiring Person,
(w) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o)) and the Company shall not be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger,
(x) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o)) shall consolidate with, or
merge with and into, the Company, the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection
with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall
be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other
Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property,
(y) the Company shall effect a statutory share exchange with the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company being exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person, cash or property, or
(z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of
its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more
transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets
or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to
any other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries,
then, and in each such case, except as contemplated by Section 13(e), proper
provision shall be made so that (i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied
by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is
then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of
Preferred Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradeable Common Shares of the Principal Party, not
subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or adverse claims,
as shall be equal to the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current
Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is, immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, statutory
share exchange, sale or transfer, exercisable and (y) dividing that product by
50 of the current per share market price of the Common Shares of such Principal
Party (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) on the date of consummation of such
consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer, (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable
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for, and shall assume, by virtue of such merger, consolidation, statutory share
exchange, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company
pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deeme
to refer to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
its Common Shares to permit the exercise of all outstanding Rights) in
connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to
assure that the provisions of this Agreement shall thereafter be applicable, as
nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean:
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clauses (w), (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer
of any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in
such merger, consolidation or exchange, or if no securities are so issued,
the Person that is the other party to such merger, consolidation or
exchange; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the
first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to
such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Shares of such
Person are not at such time or have not been continuously over the preceding
12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which
are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other
Person, and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of
more than one Person, the Common Shares of two or more of which are and have
been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, share
exchange, sale or transfer, unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient
number of authorized, unreserved Common Shares which have not been issued or are
held in treasury to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with
this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party
shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13
and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any such
consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale or transfer, the Principal Party
will:
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with
respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights, on an appropriate form, and 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
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meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (1) the date as
of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities or (2)
the Final Expiration Date;
(ii) 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; 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.
(d) The Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred
to in this Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are any rights,
warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or
arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights. Without limiting the generality of the preceding
sentence, in case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction of
the kind referred to in this Section 13 has a provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its articles of incorporation or bylaws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of a transaction of the kind referred to in this Section
13, Common Shares of such Principal Party at less than the then current pe share
market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) or securities exercisable
for or convertible into Common Shares of such Principal Party at less than such
then current market price (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this
Section 13) or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provisions
in connection with the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party
pursuant to the provisions of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company shall
not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the provision in
question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived or amended so
as to avoid any of the effects referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of this
paragraph, or the authorized securities shall have been redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13
shall not be applicable to a transaction described in clauses (w), (x) or (y) of
Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons
who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly owned
Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share
offered in such transaction is not less than the price per Common Share paid to
all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender
offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the
remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as
the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer or exchange offer.
Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(e),
all Rights hereunder shall expire.
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(f) The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive
mergers, consolidations, statutory share exchanges or sales or other transfers.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to
distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current
market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would
have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or, if
the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect to securities admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market or as
listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are
listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any
such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Rights selected by the 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 Preferred
Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates
which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of
Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts
pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it; provided, however, that if the Company issues depositary
receipts pursuant to any such agreement, such agreement shall provide that the
holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and
preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred
Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred
Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at
the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a
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Preferred Share shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives
such holder's right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares
upon exercise of a Right (except as provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Righ Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in such holder's own behalf and
for such holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit,
action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect
of, such holder's right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right
Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations of
any Person subject to, this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders. Every holder of a Right, by
accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent
and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable only in
connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable
only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal
office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument
of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose
name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated
Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of
the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or
writing on the Right Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate
made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by
any notice to the contrary.
(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
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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. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder,
as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other
securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of
the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any
Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
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, 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), or to receive dividends or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company will pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the
Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements
incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise
and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company will indemnify the Rights
Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense,
incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the
Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection
with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs
and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for,
or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with,
its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or
certificate for the Preferred Shares (or for depositary receipts evidencing
fractional interests in Preferred Shares) or Common Shares or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent,
certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine
and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by
the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set
forth in Section 20.
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Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
stock transfer or corporate trust business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties to this Agreement, provided that such corporation would be
eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of
Section 21. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the
agency created by this Agreement any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the
countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights
Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such
Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right 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 Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of
the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may
countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed
name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force
provided in the Right 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 Right Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be
proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action
hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
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<PAGE>
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 to the Company and any other
Person only for its own 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 Right
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of
the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery of this Agreement
(except the due execution of this Agreement by the Rights Agent) or in respect
of the validity or execution of any Right 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 Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)) or
any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or
amount thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining
of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment
(except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates
after receipt of actual notice from the Company stating that a change or
adjustment is required and specifying the manner and amount thereof); nor shall
it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to
the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant
to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares
will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to
be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other
acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights
Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions
of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President,
the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for
advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable
for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting
for those instructions.
(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
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or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
were not Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the
Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other
legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection
and continued employmen 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.
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 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent
of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by
registered or certified mail. 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 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 Right Certificate
(who shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Right Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new
Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by
such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the
laws of the United States or of the State of Minnesota or New York (or of any
other state of the United States so long as such corporation is authorized to do
business as a banking institution in the State of Minnesota or New York), in
good standing, having an office in the State of Minnesota or New York, 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 or is a subsidiary of a corporation which has at the time of its
appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50
million, or (b) an affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a) of this
sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the
same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally
named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights
Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at
the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
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conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares
and Preferred Shares. 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 Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or
sale of Common Shares after the Distribution Date, the Company shall, with
respect to Common Shares issued upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of
securities hereinafter issued by the Company and outstanding on the Distribution
Date, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of rights in
connection with such issuance; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be
advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of
material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such
Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Right Certificate shall be
issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time
prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, redeem all but not
less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transaction occurring after the date of this Agreement (such redemption
price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The redemption
of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time and
on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption
Price in cash, Common Shares (based on the "current market price," as defined in
Section 11(d)(i), of the Common Shares at the time of the redemption) or any
other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that if the Company elects to pay the Redemption Price in
Common Shares, the Company shall not be required to issue any fractional Common
Shares, and the number of shares issuable to each holder of Rights shall be
rounded down to the next whole number.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section
23, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights
shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall promptly give public
notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the failure to give,
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or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such
redemption. Within ten days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to
all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they
appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution
Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any
notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given,
whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption
will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire
or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that
specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24, and other than in
connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
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 11(a)(ii)) for Common Shares
at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date of this Agreement (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as
the "Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors
shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than an Exempt Person) together with all Affiliates and Associates of
such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares
then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24
and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise
such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such
Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of
such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company
shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that
the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity
of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange
to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will stat the method by which the exchange
of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any
partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial
exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of outstanding and
exercisable Rights (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to the
provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)) held by each holder of Rights.
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(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
authorized but unissued and unreserved to permit any exchange of Rights as
contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such
action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance
upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company shall, after good faith
effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such
additional Common Shares, th Company shall substitute, for each Common Share
that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of Preferred
Shares or fraction thereof such that the current per share market price of one
Preferred Share multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current
per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of such
Preferred Shares or fraction thereof.
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu
of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered
holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common
Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction
of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this
paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the
closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
of Section 11(d)(i)) 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 (i) to pay any dividend payable in
stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other
distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular
quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares
rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred
Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or
options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect
any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect any statutory share exchange with the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company being exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other corporation or cash or other property, (vi) to effect
the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (vii) to declare or
pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares),
then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is
to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common
Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice
shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause
-28-
<PAGE>
(i) or (ii) of this paragraph at least ten days prior to the record date for
determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in
the case of any such other action, at least ten days prior to the date of the
taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the
holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the
earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall occur, then the
Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, a notice of the occurrence of such
event, which notice shall describe such event and the consequences of such event
to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii).
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 Right Certificate to
or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with
the Rights Agent) as follows:
Ancor Communications, Incorporated
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
6130 Blue Circle Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is
filed in writing with the Company) as follows:
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Attention: Shareholder Services
161 North Concord Exchange Street
South St. Paul, MN 55075-1139
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be
sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry
books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. The Company may from time to time
supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Right
Certificates in order (i) to extend the Final Expiration Date or, provided that
at the time of such amendment no Person has become an Acquiring Person, the
period during which the Rights may be redeemed, (ii) to cure any ambiguity, to
correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or
inconsistent with any other provisions of this Agreement, (iii) prior to the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, to otherwise change or
supplement any provision in this Agreement in any manner which the Company may
deem necessary or desirable, or (iv) subject to clause (i) of
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<PAGE>
this Section 27, from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, to otherwise change or supplement any provision in this Agreement in any
manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person).
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement
by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. 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 Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit
of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of
Minnesota and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed
entirely within such State.
Section 32. 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 33. 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 of this
Agreement.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
By
--------------------------------
Kenneth E. Hendrickson
Chief Executive Officer
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N. A.
By
--------------------------------
Its
----------------------------
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<PAGE>
Exhibit A
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
OF
SERIES D JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Board of Directors of Ancor
Communications, Incorporated (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and
existing under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, duly adopted the
following resolution on November 3, 1998:
RESOLVED, that a series of preferred stock of the Corporation is hereby
created, and the designation and amount thereof and the relative rights and
preferences of the shares of such series, are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Preferred
Shares") and the number of shares constituting the Preferred Shares shall be
400,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of
the Board of Directors and any necessary shareholder approval; provided,
however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Preferred Shares
to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or
warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the
Corporation convertible into Preferred Shares.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of
preferred stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the
Preferred Shares with respect to dividends, the holders of Preferred Shares, in
preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day
of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being
referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Preferred Shares, in an amount per share (rounded to the
nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $1.00 or (ii) subject to the provision
for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount
of all cash dividends, and 100 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,
A-1
<PAGE>
since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Preferred
Shares. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after November 10, 1998,
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) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount to which holders of shares of Preferred Shares were entitled immediately
prior to such event under clause (ii) 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
Preferred Shares 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 or a subdivision of the outstanding
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 $1.00 per share on the Preferred Shares shall nevertheless be
payable, out of funds legally available for such purpose, on such subsequent
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares
of Preferred Shares from their date of issue. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall
not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares entitled to receive payment of
a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights.
(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each
Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters
submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after November 10, 1998, 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) 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 Preferred Shares were entitled immediately prior to
such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of 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-2
<PAGE>
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of Preferred
Shares and the holders 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 required by law, holders of Preferred
Shares shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be
required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common
Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Preferred Shares as provided in Section 2 are in arrears,
thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether
or not declared, on shares of Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares;
(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 Preferred Shares, except
dividends paid ratably on the Preferred Shares 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 Preferred Shares; provided, however, that
the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the
Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution,
liquidation or winding up) to the Preferred Shares; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any
Preferred Shares, or any stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred
Shares, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by
publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of
such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration
of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective
series or classes.
A-3
<PAGE>
(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any Preferred Shares purchased or otherwise
acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and
canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon
their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and
may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of
Incorporation, or in any other certificate of designation creating a series of
preferred stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1)
to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred Shares unless, prior
thereto, the holders of Preferred Shares shall have received the greater of (i)
$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, or
(ii) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed
per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Preferred Shares, except distributions made ratably on the Preferred
Shares 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 after November 10,
1998, 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) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
aggregate amount to which holder of shares of Preferred Shares were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (1)(ii) 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.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter
into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of
Preferred Shares 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 100 times the aggregat 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 after November 10, 1998, declare or pay any
dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination
A-4
<PAGE>
or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification
or otherwise) 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 Preferred Shares shall be adjusted by
multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The Preferred Shares shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Preferred Shares shall rank, with respect to the
payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of any
other class of the Corporation's preferred stock.
Section 10. Fractional Shares. Preferred Shares may be issued in fractions
of a share which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share which
shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Preferred Shares.
Section 11. Amendment. The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the
powers, preferences or rights of the Preferred Shares so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have subscribed my name this 4th day of November,
1998.
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS,
INCORPORATED
By
--------------------------------
Kenneth E. Hendrickson
Chief Executive Officer
A-5
<PAGE>
Exhibit B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES
Certificate No. R-___ __________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 3, 2008 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.01 PER RIGHT (SUBJECT TO
ADJUSTMENT) AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND SUBSEQUENT HOLDERS OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND
VOID.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
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 3, 1998 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between Ancor Communications, Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation (the
"Company"), and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N. A. (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., Minneapolis time, on
November 3, 2008 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, or of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully
paid non-assessable share of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company, at a purchase
price of $20.00 (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The
number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one
one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof)
set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of November 10, 1998, based on the Preferred Shares as
constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase
Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
B-1
<PAGE>
This Right 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 Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company and the office or offices of the Rights Agent and will be mailed without
charge by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of this certificate
promptly following receipt by the Company or the Rights Agent of a written
request therefor.
From and after the date that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, any
Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person
(or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement) shall be void and any holder of such Rights
shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of
this Agreement.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of
like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to
purchase. If this Right Certificate shal be exercised in part, the holder shall
be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by
this certificate (i) may, but are not required to, be redeemed by the Company at
a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment as provided in the
Rights Agreement, and (ii) may, but are not required to, be exchanged by the
Company in whole or in part for Common Shares.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein
be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of 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 Right Certificate shall have been
exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
B-2
<PAGE>
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the manual or facsimile signature of the proper officer of the
Company.
Dated: _____________
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
By
---------------------------------
Its
------------------------------
Countersigned for purposes
of authentication only:
NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N. A.
By
--------------------------------
Authorized Signature
B-3
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____________________ hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto _____________________________________________________ (print name
of transferee) _____________________________________________________ (print
address of transferee) this Right Certificate, together with all right, title
and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
_______________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on
the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number: ___________________________________________________
Dated: ____________________________
-----------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Medallion Guaranteed: ________________________________________________
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program),
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
B-4
<PAGE>
Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate--continued
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________
Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares
issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for
such Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number:
---------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security,
taxpayer identification
or other identifying number:
---------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ___________________
-----------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Medallion Guaranteed: ________________________________________________
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit
unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program),
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
B-5
<PAGE>
Exhibit C
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On November 3, 1998, the Board of Directors of Ancor Communications,
Incorporated (the "Company"), declared a dividend of one preferred share
purchase right (a "Right") per share for each outstanding share of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is
payable to shareholders of record on November 10, 1998 (the "Record Date").
Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one
one-hundredth of a share of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of
$20.00 per one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to
adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights
Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of November 3, 1998, between the
Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota , N. A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates
representing Common Shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates
will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, and a
Distribution Date for the Rights will occur, upon the earlier of: (i) the first
date of public announcement that a Person or group of affiliated or associated
Persons has become an "Acquiring Person" (i.e., has become, subject to certain
exceptions, the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(other than as a result of a Permitted Offer and subject to certain exceptions))
and (ii) the close of business on the 10th day following the commencement or
public announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of
which would result in a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
becoming an Acquiring Person.
A "Permitted Offer" is a tender offer or an exchange offer for all
outstanding Common Shares of the Company determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company, after receiving such advice as it deems necessary and giving due
consideration to all relevant factors, to be in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares,
(ii) new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or
new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the
Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any
Common Share certificate, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary
of Rights attached thereto, will also cons titute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate.
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As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date, and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will
expire on November 3, 2008, unless extended or earlier redeemed or exchanged by
the Company as described below. No fraction of a Preferred Share (other than
fractions in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share) will be issued
and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the closing
price on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
The Purchase Price payable and the number of Preferred Shares issuable
upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to
prevent dilution: (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision,
combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to
holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights, options or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less
than the then current market price of the e Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
described in clause (ii) of this paragraph). With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments
require an adjustment of at least 1% in the Purchase Price.
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of Preferred Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares
payable in Common Shares or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the
Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an
aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the
event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a
minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be
entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share.
Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common
Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction
in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to
receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are subject
to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Shares or a
subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares.
In the event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right
shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then
current aggregate exercise price, in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of
Common Shares of the Company having a current aggregate market price equal to
twice the current aggregate exercise price. In the event that at any time after
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there is an Acquiring Person the Company is acquired in certain mergers or other
business combination e transactions or 50% or more of the assets or earning
power of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) are sold, holders
of the Rights will thereafter have the Right to receive, upon exercise thereof
at the then current aggregate exercise price, such number of Common Shares of
the acquiring company (or, in certain cases, one of its affiliates) having a
current aggregate market price equal to twice the current aggregate exercise
price.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person (subject to certain
exceptions), and prior to the acquisition by a Person of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
all or part of the Rights for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common
Share per right, subject to adjustment.
At any time before a Person has become an Acquiring Person, the Board of
Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a
price of $0.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), subject to adjustment. The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may
establish.
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.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
November 4, 1998. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Company by contacting the Secretary at Ancor Communciations,
Incorporated, 6130 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
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