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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 6, 1998
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
-----------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 08176 95-1840947
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(State of (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Incorporation) Identification No.)
225 North Barranca Ave., Suite 200, West Covina, CA (91719)
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(626) 915-1551
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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(former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
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On April 6, 1998, the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company (the
"Company") adopted a Stockholder Rights Plan.
In connection with the Rights Plan, the Board of Directors of the Company
declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (the "Rights") for
each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Shares"), of the Company outstanding at the close of business on April 27, 1998
(the "Record Date"). Each Right will entitle the registered holder thereof,
after the Rights become exercisable and until April 6, 2008 (or the earlier
redemption, exchange or termination of the Rights), to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), at a price
of $65.00 per one one-hundredth (1/100th) of a Preferred Share, subject to
certain anti-dilution adjustments (the "Purchase Price"). Until the earlier to
occur of (i) ten (10) days following a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to
acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Common Shares (an "Acquiring
Person") or (ii) ten (10) business days (or such later date as may be determined
by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person or group of
affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement or
announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer the
consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or
group of 15% or more of the Common Shares (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being
called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to
any of the Common Share certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such
Common Share certificate. The Rights will be transferred with and only with the
Common Shares until the Distribution Date or earlier redemption or expiration of
the Rights. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate
certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to
holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the
Rights. The Rights will at no time have any voting rights.
Each Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will be
entitled, when, as and if declared, 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, if any, declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the
Preferred Shares will be entitled to a preferential liquidation payment of $100
per share plus any accrued but unpaid dividends but will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 100 votes and will vote 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. Preferred Shares will
not be redeemable. These Rights are protected by customary anti-dilution
provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred Share's dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of one
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one-hundredth of a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right
should approximate the value of one Common Share.
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or if the Company
were the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring Person or any
affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person and the Common Shares were not
changed or exchanged, each holder of a Right, other than Rights that are or were
acquired or beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which Rights will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the then current
Purchase Price of one Right. In the event that, after a person has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company were acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or more than 50% of its assets or earning power were
sold, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current Purchase Price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of
the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction would have a market
value of two times the then current Purchase Price of one Right.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the
earlier of one of the events described in the last sentence in the previous
paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the then
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors may cause the Company to
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person which have
become void), in whole or in part, for Common Shares at an exchange rate of one
Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01
per Right (the "Redemption Price") by the Board of Directors at any time prior
to the time that an Acquiring Person has become such. 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.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will receive the
Redemption Price.
The Rights will expire on April 6, 2008 (unless earlier redeemed, exchanged
or terminated). ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. is the Rights Agent.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of one one-hundredths of a
Preferred Share or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the
Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in
the event of a 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 or warrants to subscribe for or purchase
Preferred Shares or convertible securities at less than the current market price
of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the
Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness, cash, securities or assets
(excluding regular periodic cash dividends at a rate not in excess of 125% of
the rate of the last regular periodic cash dividend theretofore paid or, in case
regular periodic cash dividends
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have not theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average
net income per share of the Company for the four quarters ended immediately
prior to the payment of such dividend, or dividends payable in Preferred Shares
(which dividends will be subject to the adjustment described in clause (i)
above)) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
above).
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company beyond those as an existing stockholder,
including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998,
between the Company and the Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement") may be amended
by the Board of Directors of the Company for so long as the Rights are then
redeemable, and after the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may amend
or supplement the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect
the interests of the holder of the Rights.
One Right will be distributed to stockholders of the Company for each
Common Share owned of record by them on April 27, 1998. As long as the Rights
are attached to the Common Shares, the Company will issue one Right with each
new Common Share so that all such shares will have attached Rights. The Company
has agreed that, from and after the Distribution Date, the Company will reserve
100,000 Preferred Shares initially for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.
The rights are designed to assure that all of the Company's stockholders
receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the
Company and to guard against partial tender offers, open market accumulations
and other abusive tactics to gain control of the Company without paying all
stockholders a control premium. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a
person or group that acquires 15% or more of the Company's stock on terms not
approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Rights should not interfere
with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors
at any time prior to the first date that a Person or group has become an
Acquiring Person.
The Rights Agreement specifying the terms of the Rights and the text of the
press release announcing the declaration of the Rights, are incorporated herein
by reference as exhibits to this Current Report. The foregoing description of
the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
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Item 7. Exhibits.
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4. Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998, between Southwest
Water Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. which
includes the form of Certificate of Designations of the Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Southwest Water Company as
Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary
of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit C.
99. Text of Press Release, dated April 10, 1998.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 23, 1998
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
By: /s/ Anton C. Garnier
---------------------------------
Name: Anton C. Garnier
Title: Chairman, President
and Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
4. Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998, between Southwest Water
Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., which includes the
form of Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock of Southwest Water Company as Exhibit A, the form of Right
Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares as Exhibit C.
99. Text of Press Release, dated April 10, 1998.
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EXHIBIT 4
================================================================================
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
and
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
as Rights Agent
Rights Agreement
Dated as of April 6, 1998
================================================================================
<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
----------------
This Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998, between Southwest
Water Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
RECITALS
--------
WHEREAS, on April 6, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company
adopted this Agreement, and has authorized and declared a dividend of one
preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share (as defined in
Section 1.6) of the Company outstanding at the close of business on April 27,
1998 (the "Record Date") and has authorized and directed the issuance of one
Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect to each Common
Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in
Sections 3.1 and 7.1), each Right initially representing the right to purchase
one one-hundredth (subject to adjustment) of a share of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company having the
rights, powers and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of
Designation attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Rights may be issued
with respect to Common Shares that shall become outstanding after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date in accordance with Section
22.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
-------------------
following terms have the meanings indicated:
1.1. "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
(as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial
Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the Common Shares
of the Company then outstanding but shall not include (i) an Exempt Person (as
such term is hereinafter defined) or (ii) if, as of the date hereof, any Person
is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares outstanding (an
"Existing Holder"), such Existing Holder shall not be or become an "Acquiring
Person" unless and until such time as such Existing Holder shall become the
Beneficial Owner of one or more additional Common Shares of the Company (other
than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company on the
outstanding Common Shares in Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision
of the outstanding Common Shares), unless, upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of
such additional Common Shares, such Existing Holder is not then the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. 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 15% or more of the Common Shares of
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the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become
the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then
outstanding solely by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after
such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of one or more
additional Common Shares of the Company (other than pursuant to a dividend or
distribution paid or made by the Company on the outstanding Common Shares in
Common Shares or pursuant to a split or subdivision of the outstanding Common
Shares), then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person" unless
upon becoming the Beneficial Owner of such additional shares of Common Stock
such Person does not beneficially own 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding. 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
Section 1.1, has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation,
because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of
Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an "Acquiring Person"
or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common
Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial
Ownership under this Agreement), and without any intention of changing or
influencing control of the Company, 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 Section 1.1, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or have become
an "Acquiring Person" at any time for any purposes of this Agreement. For all
purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is
the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule
13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date
of this Agreement.
1.2. "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, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
1.3. 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 (as determined 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, directly or indirectly, has (A) the right to acquire (whether such
right is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time, compliance
with regulatory requirements, fulfillment of a condition or otherwise) pursuant
to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (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
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conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or
to beneficially own, (w) 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,
(x) securities which such Person has a right to acquire upon the exercise of
Rights at any time prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person, (y) securities issuable upon the exercise of Rights from and after the
time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person if such Rights were acquired by
such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the
Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3.1 or Section 22 ("Original Rights")
or pursuant to Section 11.9 or Section 11.15 with respect to an adjustment to
Original Rights or (z) securities which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates may acquire, does or do acquire or may be deemed to
have the right to acquire, pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement
between the Company and such Person (or one or more of his Affiliates or
Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of the
Company prior to such Person's becoming an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to
vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in
writing); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial
Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this clause (B) 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 of 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 (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) and with respect to
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), whether or not in writing, for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as
described in the proviso to Section 1.3(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities
of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Person who is an officer, director or employee of an
Exempt Person shall be deemed, solely by reason of such Person's status or
authority as such, to be the "Beneficial Owner" of, to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of or to "beneficially own" any securities that are "beneficially
owned" (as defined in this Section 1.3), including, without limitation, in a
fiduciary capacity, by an Exempt Person or by any other such officer, director
or employee of an Exempt Person.
1.4. "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday,
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
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1.5. "close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m.,
California time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not a
Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., California time, on the next succeeding
Business Day.
1.6. "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 with the greatest voting power, or the equity
securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the
management, of such other Person or, if such Person is a Subsidiary (as such
term is hereinafter defined) of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person, and which has issued and
outstanding such capital stock, equity securities or equity interest.
1.7. "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of
Directors of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not
an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or an
employee, director, representative, nominee or designee of any Acquiring Person
or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and was a member of the Board prior to
the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) any Person (during
such period in which such Person is a member of the Board) who, after the time
that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, becomes a member of the Board and
who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate of Associate of an Acquiring
Person, or an employee, director, representative, nominee or designee of an
Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's
nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or approved by a
majority of the Continuing Directors.
1.8. "Exempt Person" shall mean the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, in each case including, without limitation, its fiduciary capacity, or
any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or
any entity or trustee holding shares of capital stock of the Company for or
pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or for the purpose of funding other
employee benefits for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
1.9. "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability company, firm, corporation, unincorporated association, trust
or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of
such entity.
1.10. "Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, the filing of a report pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act
or pursuant to a comparable successor statute) by the Company or an Acquiring
Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or that discloses information
which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person or such earlier date as a
majority of the Board of Directors shall become aware of the existence of an
Acquiring Person.
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1.11. "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities
or equity interests is owned, of record or beneficially, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
1.12. A "Trigger Event" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any
Person becoming an Acquiring Person.
1.13. The following terms shall have the meanings defined for such
terms in the Sections set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Term Section
---- -------
<S> <C>
Adjustment Shares 11.1.2
common stock equivalent 11.1.3
Company Recitals
current per share market price 11.4
Current Value 11.1.3
Distribution Date 3.1
equivalent preferred stock 11.2
Exchange Act 1.1
Exchange Consideration 27
Existing Holder 1.1
Expiration Date 7.1
Final Expiration Date 7.1
Nasdaq 9
Original Rights 1.3
Preferred Shares Recitals
Principal Party 13.2
Purchase Price 4
Record Date Recitals
Redemption Date 7.1
Redemption Price 23.1
Right Recitals
Right Certificate 3.1
Rights Agent Recitals
Security 11.4
Spread 11.1.3
Substitution Period 11.1.3
Summary of Rights 3.2
Trading Day 11.4
</TABLE>
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
---------------------------
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms
and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.
The Company may from time to
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time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable. In
the event the Company appoints one or more co-Rights Agents, the respective
duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agent shall be as the Company shall
determine. Contemporaneously with such appointment, if any, the Company shall
notify the Rights Agent thereof.
Section 3. Issuance of Right Certificates.
------------------------------
3.1. Rights Evidenced by Share Certificates. Until the earlier of
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(i) the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth Business
Day after the date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the
intent of any Person (other than an Exempt Person) to commence, a tender or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person (other than
an Exempt Person) becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating 15%
or more of the then outstanding Common Shares of the Company (the earlier of (i)
and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights
(unless earlier expired, redeemed or terminated) will be evidenced (subject to
the provisions of Section 3.2) by the certificates for Common Shares registered
in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates for Common Shares shall
also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate certificates, and
(y) the Rights (and the right to receive certificates therefor) will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying Common
Shares. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, prior to the occurrence of a
Distribution Date specified as a result of an event described in clause (ii) (or
such later Distribution Date as the Board of Directors of the Company may select
pursuant to this sentence), the Board of Directors may postpone, one or more
times, the Distribution Date which would occur as a result of an event described
in clause (ii) beyond the date set forth in such clause (ii). Nothing herein
shall permit such a postponement of a Distribution Date after a Person becomes
an Acquiring Person, except as a result of the operation of the third sentence
of Section 1.1. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company
will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign and the Company (or,
if requested, the Rights Agent) will send, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail,
to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the
Distribution Date (other than any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate
of an Acquiring Person), at the address of such holder shown on the records of
the Company, one or more certificates for Rights, in substantially the form of
Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"), evidencing one Right (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) for each Common Share so held. As of the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right
Certificates.
3.2. Summary of Rights. On the Record Date or as soon as
-----------------
practicable thereafter, the Company will send or cause to be sent a copy of a
Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form
attached hereto as 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 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 (or the
earlier Expiration Date), the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for
Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof together with a
copy of the Summary of Rights and the registered holders of the
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Common Shares shall also be registered holders of the associated Rights. Until
the Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration Date), the surrender for
transfer of any certificate for Common Shares outstanding at the close of
business on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights,
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common
Shares represented thereby.
3.3. New Certificates After Record Date. Certificates for Common
----------------------------------
Shares which become outstanding (whether upon issuance out of authorized but
unissued Common Shares, disposition out of treasury or transfer or exchange of
outstanding Common Shares) after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed, printed,
stamped, written or otherwise affixed onto them the following legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain
rights as set forth in an Agreement between Southwest Water Company (the
"Company") and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent,
dated as of April 6, 1998, as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices
of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the
Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will
no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the
holder of this certificate a copy of the Agreement without charge after
receipt of a written request therefor. AS DESCRIBED IN THE AGREEMENT,
RIGHTS WHICH ARE OWNED BY, TRANSFERRED TO OR HAVE BEEN OWNED BY ACQUIRING
PERSONS OR ASSOCIATES OR AFFILIATES THEREOF (AS DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT)
SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
Distribution Date (or the earlier Expiration 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 certificates,
except as otherwise provided herein, 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.
Notwithstanding this Section 3.3, the omission of a legend shall not
affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any
holder of the Rights.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and
--------------------------
the forms of election to purchase shares, certification and assignment to be
printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B
hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such
legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem
appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement,
or as may be
7
<PAGE>
required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or trading
system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to
conform to usage. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Right
Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record Date, and shall
show the date of countersignature by the Rights Agent, and on their face 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 of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President, either
manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's
seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or any
Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.
The Right Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by facsimile
signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, but it shall not be
necessary for the same signatory to countersign all of the Right Certificates
hereunder. No Right Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless so
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 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, the certificate
number of 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 7.5, Section 11.1.2 and 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 Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right
Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become
void pursuant to Section 11.1.2 or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section
27) may be transferred, split up or 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 or combine or exchange
8
<PAGE>
any Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender, together with any required form of assignment and
certificate duly completed, the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be
transferred, split up or combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent
designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
surrendered Right Certificate or Right Certificates until the registered holder
shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of
assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate or Right Certificates
and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent
shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate
or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may
require payment from the holders of Right Certificates of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, split up or combination or exchange of such Right Certificates.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.1.2 , at any time after the
Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, 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
make and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Right
Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
------------------------------------------------------
Rights.
- ------
7.1. Exercise of Rights. Subject to Section 11.1.2 and except as
------------------
otherwise provided herein, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby 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 and certification on the reverse side thereof duly
executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price for the
total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other securities,
cash or other assets) as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the
time (the "Expiration Date") that is the earliest of (i) the close of business
on April 6, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the
Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 (the "Redemption Date"), (iii) the
closing of any merger or other acquisition transaction involving the Company
pursuant to an agreement of the type described in Sections 1.3(ii)(A)(z) and
13.3, at which time the Rights are deemed terminated, or (iv) the time at which
the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 27.
7.2. Purchase. The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a
--------
Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall be initially $65.00,
shall be subject to adjustment
9
<PAGE>
from time to time as provided in Sections 11, 13 and 26 and shall be payable in
lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7.3.
7.3. Payment Procedures. Upon receipt of a Right Certificate
------------------
representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and
certification duly executed, accompanied by payment of the aggregate Purchase
Price for the total number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share 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, in cash or
by certified or 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 of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent
is the transfer agent) 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 the total number of Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Rights hereunder with a depository agent, requisition from the depositary agent
depositary receipts representing interests in such number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the
Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer
agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary
agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from
the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional
shares in accordance with Section 14 or otherwise in accordance with Section
11.1.3, (iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt, promptly
deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right
Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11.1.3, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such
other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by
the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
7.4. Partial Exercise. In case the registered holder of any Right
----------------
Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new
Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining
unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered
holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to
the provisions of Section 14.
7.5. Full Information Concerning Ownership. 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 of Rights upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in
this Section 7 unless the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Right Certificate surrendered for
such exercise shall have been duly completed and signed by the registered holder
thereof and the Company shall have been provided with such additional evidence
of the identity of the Beneficial
10
<PAGE>
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the
Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction 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 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, or shall, at the written
request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such
case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock. The
---------------------------------------------
Company covenants and agrees that from and after the Distribution Date it will
cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued
Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Trigger Event, out of its
authorized and unissued Common Shares or other securities or out of its shares
held in its treasury) the number of Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) that will
be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.
So long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a
Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable upon the exercise
of Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market and quoted on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq") (including the National
Market or Small Cap Market), the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed or admitted to trading on such exchange or quoted
on Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as
may be necessary to ensure that all Preferred Shares (and, following the
occurrence of a Trigger Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) delivered
upon exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for
such shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable shares.
From and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, the Company
shall use its best efforts, if then necessary to permit the issuance of
Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights, to register and qualify such
Preferred Shares under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities or
"Blue Sky" laws (to the extent exemptions therefrom are not available), cause
such registration statement and qualifications to become effective as soon as
possible after such filing and keep such registration and qualifications
effective until the earlier
11
<PAGE>
of the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities
and the Expiration Date. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of
time not to exceed 90 days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare
and file a registration statement under the Securities Act and permit it to
become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public
announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily
suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no
longer in effect. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the
requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained and until
a registration statement under the Securities Act (if required) shall have been
declared effective.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and
payable any and all Federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of
any Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may
be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to
pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery
of Right Certificates to a person other than, or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for the Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities,
as the case may be) in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the
Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or
deliver any certificates for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other
securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered
holder upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid
(any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time
of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction
that no such tax is due.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name
----------------------------
any certificate for Preferred Shares (or Common Shares and/or other securities,
as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes
be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and
such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the 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 Preferred Shares (or
Common Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Shares (or Common
Shares and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the
holder of a 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 or to receive dividends or other distributions,
and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
12
<PAGE>
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number
--------------------------------------------------------
of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares or other
- ---------
securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of
Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
this Section 11.
11.1. Post-Execution Events.
---------------------
11.1.1. Corporate Dividends, Reclassifications, Etc. In the event
-------------------------------------------
the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare and
pay 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 11.1, 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, he 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 11.1.1 and Section 11.1.2, the adjustment provided
for in this Section 11.1.1 shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to,
the adjustment required pursuant to, Section 11.1.2.
11.1.2. Acquiring Person Events; Triggering Events. Subject to
------------------------------------------
Sections 23.1 and 27, in the event that a Trigger Event occurs, then, from and
after the first occurrence of such event, each holder of a Right, except as
provided below, shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof
at a price per Right 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 (without giving effect to this Section 11.1.2), in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of
Common Shares as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then
current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred
Share for which a Right is then exercisable (without giving effect to this
Section 11.1.2) and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the current per share
market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the
first of the date of the occurrence of, or the date of the first public
announcement of, a Trigger Event (the "Adjustment Shares"); PROVIDED that the
Purchase Price and the number of Adjustment Shares shall thereafter be subject
to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11.6.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, any
Rights that are or were acquired or beneficially owned by (1) any Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof, (2) a
13
<PAGE>
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (3) a
transferee of any Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who
becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming
such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not
for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in
such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a
primary purpose or effect avoidance of this Section 11.1.2, and subsequent
transferees, shall become void without any further action, and any holder
(whether or not such holder is an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate
of an Acquiring Person) of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to
exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The
Company shall not enter into any transaction of the type described in this
Section 11.1.2 if at the time of such transaction there are any rights,
warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any arrangements which, as a
result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially
diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. From and after the
Trigger Event, no Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or
Section 6 that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph, and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights
Agent that represents Rights that are or have become void pursuant to the
provisions of this paragraph shall be canceled.
The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the
provisions of this Section 11.1.2 are complied with, but shall have no liability
to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure
to make any determinations with respect to any Acquiring Person or its
Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.
From and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13.1,
any Rights that theretofore have not been exercised pursuant to this Section
11.1.2 shall thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and
not pursuant to this Section 11.1.2.
11.1.3. Insufficient Shares. The Company may at its option
-------------------
substitute for a Common Share issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance
with the foregoing Section 11.1.2 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. In the event that upon the occurrence of one or more
of the events listed in Section 11.1.2 above there shall not be sufficient
Common Shares authorized but unissued, or held by the Company as treasury
shares, to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing Section 11.1.2, the Company shall take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of
the Rights, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company determines that it is unable
to cause the authorization of a sufficient number of additional Common Shares,
then, in the event the Rights become exercisable, the Company, with respect to
each Right and to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any
agreements or instruments in effect on the date hereof to
14
<PAGE>
which it is a party, shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the
Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value"),
over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread") and (B) with respect to
each Right (other than Rights which have become void pursuant to Section
11.1.2), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon
payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the
Purchase Price, (3) Preferred Shares or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or fractions of shares, of preferred
stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights
substantially comparable to those of the Common Shares, the Board of Directors
of the Company has deemed in good faith to have substantially the same value as
Common Shares) (each such share of preferred stock or fractions of shares of
preferred stock constituting a "common stock equivalent")), (4) debt securities
of the Company, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing having
an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has
been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice
of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company shall
not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above
within thirty (30) days following the first occurrence of one of the events
listed in Section 11.1.2 above, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver,
to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements or
instruments in effect on the date hereof to which it is a party, upon the
surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase
Price, Common Shares (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, such
number or fractions of Preferred Shares (to the extent available) and then, if
necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the
Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith
that it is unlikely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized
for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set
forth above may be extended and re-extended to the extent necessary, but not
more than ninety (90) days following the first occurrence of one of the events
listed in Section 11.1.2 above, in order that the Company may seek stockholder
approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period as may be
extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines
that some action need be taken pursuant to the second and/or third sentences of
this Section 11.1.3, the Company (x) shall provide that such action shall apply
uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of
the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any
authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of
distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the
value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a
public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been
temporarily suspended as well as a public announcement at such time as the
suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11.1.3, the
value of a Common Share shall be the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the date of the occurrence of a Trigger
Event and the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the
same value as the Common Shares on such date. The Board of Directors of the
Company may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures to allocate the
right to receive Common Shares upon the exercise of the Rights among holders of
Rights pursuant to this Section 11.1.3. Actions of the Company pursuant to
15
<PAGE>
this Section 11.1.3 by the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors
(including, following a Trigger Event, a majority of the Continuing Directions).
11.2. Dilutive Rights Offering. In case the Company shall fix a
------------------------
record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of
Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days
after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or
securities having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred
Shares ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Shares or equivalent preferred stock at a price per Preferred Share or per share
of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion or exercise price per
share, if a security convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred stock) less than the current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) 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
and shares of equivalent preferred stock outstanding on such record date plus
the number of Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock which
the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or
shares of equivalent preferred stock to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial
conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase
at such current per share market price and the denominator of which shall be the
number of Preferred Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock outstanding
on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or shares
of equivalent preferred stock 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 as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Preferred
Shares and shares of equivalent preferred stock owned by or held for the account
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding
for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such
rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be
the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not
been fixed.
11.3. Distributions. 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, cash, securities or assets (other than a regular
periodic cash dividend at a rate not in excess of 125% of the rate of the last
regular periodic cash dividend theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic
cash dividends have not theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of
the average net income per share of the Company for the four quarters ended
immediately prior to the payment of such dividend, or a dividend payable in
16
<PAGE>
Preferred Shares (which dividend, for purposes of this Agreement, shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 11.1.1(A))) or convertible securities, or
subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11.2),
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current per share market
price of the Preferred Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets,
securities 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 (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4); 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.
11.4. Current Per Share Market Value.
------------------------------
11.4.1. General. For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the
-------
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose
of this Section 11.4.1) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such
date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the current per share market
price of the Security is determined during any period following the announcement
by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such
Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such
shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security, and prior to the expiration of thirty (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 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 New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the 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 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
17
<PAGE>
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is
making a market in the Security, the fair value of the Security on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.
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. If the
Security is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, or if on any such date
the Security is not so quoted and no such market maker is making a market in the
Security, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share
as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or, if at
the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of
the Continuing Directors then in office, or if there are no Continuing
Directors, by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Board of Directors, which shall have the duty to make such determination in a
reasonable and objective manner, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
11.4.2. Preferred Shares. Notwithstanding Section 11.4.1, for the
----------------
purpose of any computation hereunder, the "current per share market price" of
the Preferred Shares shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above
in Section 11.4.1 (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current per
share market price of the Preferred Shares cannot be determined in the manner
described in Section 11.4.1, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to 100 (as
such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock splits, stock
dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Shares occurring
after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current per share market
price of the Common Shares (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4.1). If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, (as determined pursuant to Section 11.4.1). If neither the
Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded,
or if on any such date neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are so
quoted and no such market maker is making a market in either the Common Shares
or the Preferred Shares, "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, or, if at the time of such determination
there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office, or if there are no Continuing Directors, by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which
shall have the duty to make such determination in a reasonable and objective
manner, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes. For purposes of this
Agreement, the "current per share market price" of one one-hundredth of a
Preferred Share shall be equal to the "current per share market price" of one
Preferred Share divided by 100.
11.5. Insignificant Changes. 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. Any adjustments which by reason of this
Section 11.5 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-hundred
18
<PAGE>
thousandth of a Preferred Share or the nearest one-hundredth of a Common Share
or other share or security, as the case may be.
11.6. Shares Other Than Preferred Shares. If as a result of an
----------------------------------
adjustment made pursuant to Section 11.1, 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 Sections 11.1,
11.2, 11.3, 11.5, 11.8, 11.9 and 11.13, 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.
11.7. Rights Issued Prior to Adjustment. 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.
11.8. Effect of Adjustments. Unless the Company shall have
---------------------
exercised its election as provided in Section 11.9, upon each adjustment of the
Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11.2 and 11.3,
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-hundred thousandth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred 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.
11.9. Adjustment in Number of Rights. 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 issuable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights
outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable
for the number of one 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-hundredth) obtained by dividing the
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price
by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase
Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust
the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if
known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date
may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter,
but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) 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
11.9, the
19
<PAGE>
Company may, 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 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 (and may bear, at
the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered
in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date
specified in the public announcement.
11.10. Right Certificates Unchanged. 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 per
share and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which were
expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.
11.11. Par Value Limitations. 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 or other shares of capital stock
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 or other such shares at such adjusted Purchase Price.
11.12. Deferred Issuance. In any case in which this Section 11
-----------------
shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a
record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the
occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after
such record date of that number of Preferred Shares and shares of other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and
above the Preferred Shares and shares of other capital stock or other
securities, assets or cash 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.
11.13. Reduction in Purchase Price. Anything in this Section 11 to
---------------------------
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such
reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly
required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion
shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision
of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any of the Preferred Shares
at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred
Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable
for Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares
or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in
20
<PAGE>
this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred
Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
11.14. Company Not to Diminish Benefits of Rights. The Company
------------------------------------------
covenants and agrees that after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date or
Distribution Date it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 26 or
Section 27, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time
such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will
substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be
afforded by the Rights.
11.15. Adjustment of Rights Associated with Common Shares.
--------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event that the Company shall at any time after the date hereof and prior to the
Distribution Date (i) declare or pay any dividend on the outstanding Common
Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) effect a subdivision or consolidation of
the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by the
payment of dividends payable in Common Shares), or (iii) combine the outstanding
Common Shares into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such
case, the number of Rights associated with each Common Share then outstanding,
or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date or in
accordance with Section 22 shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number
of Rights thereafter associated with each Common Share following any such event
shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated
with each Common Share immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately following the
occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11.15
shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such
a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of
---------------------------------------------------
Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13, the
- ------
Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly
file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or
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. The
Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on
any adjustment therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of
any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
------------------------------------------------------
Earning Power.
- -------------
13.1. Certain Transactions. In the event that, from and after the
--------------------
first occurrence of a Trigger Event, directly or indirectly, (A) the Company
shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person and the Company
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation,
21
<PAGE>
(B) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the
Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such
merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares
shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company
or any other Person or cash or any other property, or (C) the Company shall
sell, exchange, mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell, exchange, mortgage 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 or Persons (other than the Company or one or more wholly-owned
Subsidiaries of the Company in one or more transactions each of which complies
with Section 11.14), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made
so that (i) each holder of a Right (other than Rights which have become void
pursuant to Section 11.1.2) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at a price per Right equal to the then current Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a
Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger
Event (as subsequently adjusted pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8,
11.9 and 11.12), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of
Preferred Shares or Common Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued,
fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable Common Shares of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined) not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Trigger Event (as
subsequently adjusted pursuant to Sections 11.1.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.8, 11.9 and
11.12) and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the then current per share market
price of the Common Shares of such Principal Party (determined pursuant to
Section 11.4) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer; PROVIDED, that the price per Right so payable and the number of Common
Shares of such Principal Party so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall
thereafter be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with
Section 11.6 to reflect any events covered thereby occurring in respect of the
Common Shares of such Principal Party after the occurrence of such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant
to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its
Common Shares in accordance with Section 9) in connection with such consummation
as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; PROVIDED that, upon the
subsequent occurrence of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets
or other extraordinary transaction in respect of such Principal Party, each
holder of a Right shall thereupon be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a
Right and payment of the Purchase Price as provided in this Section 13.1, such
cash, shares, rights, warrants and other property which such holder would have
been entitled to receive had such holder, at the time of such transaction, owned
the Common Shares of the Principal Party receivable upon the exercise of a Right
pursuant to this Section 13.1, and such Principal Party shall take such steps
(including, but not limited to,
22
<PAGE>
reservation of shares of stock) as may be necessary to permit the subsequent
exercise of the Rights in accordance with the terms hereof for such cash,
shares, rights, warrants and other property. The Company shall not consummate
any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the
Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights
Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that the requirements of this Section
13.1 and Section 13.2 shall promptly be performed in accordance with their terms
and that such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets shall not result
in a default by the Principal Party under this Agreement as the same shall have
been assumed by the Principal Party pursuant to this Section 13.1 and Section
13.2 and providing that, as soon as practicable after executing such agreement
pursuant to this Section 13, the Principal Party, at its own expense, shall
(1) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities
Act, if necessary, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable
upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement
to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date and similarly comply with
applicable state securities laws;
(2) use its best efforts, if the Common Shares of the Principal Party
shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or on
another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or continue
the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the
Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if the
Common Shares of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to trading
on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the
Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be
authorized for quotation on Nasdaq or on such other system then in use;
(3) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements
for the Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for
registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; and
(4) obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive
rights in respect of the Common Shares of the Principal Party subject to
purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.
In case the Principal Party has provision in any of its authorized
securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument
governing its corporate affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i)
causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant
to this Section 13), in connection with, or as a consequence of, the
consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, Common Shares or
common stock equivalents of such Principal Party at less than the then current
market price per share thereof (determined pursuant to Section 11.4) or
securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Shares or common stock
equivalents of such Principal Party at less than such then current market
23
<PAGE>
price (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13), or (ii)
providing for any special payment, taxes or similar provision in connection with
the issuance of the Common Shares of such Principal Party pursuant to the
provision of Section 13, then, in such event, the Company hereby agrees with
each holder of Rights that it shall not consummate any such transaction unless
prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and
delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the
provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived
or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the
applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence
of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.
The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after
the Trigger Event, enter into any transaction of the type described in clauses
(A) through (C) of this Section 13.1 if (i) at the time of or immediately after
such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other transaction there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in
effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights, (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or
immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or other
transaction, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would
constitute, the Principal Party for purposes of Section 13.2 shall have received
a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its
Affiliates or Associates or (iii) the form or nature of organization of the
Principal Party would preclude or limit the exercisability of the Rights. The
provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive transactions
of the type described in clauses (A) through (C) of this Section 13.1.
13.2. Principal Party. "Principal Party" shall mean:
---------------
(i) in the case of any transaction described in (A) or (B) of
the first sentence of Section 13.1: (i) the Person that is the issuer of the
securities into which the Common Shares are converted in such merger or
consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer the Common
Shares of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding,
or (ii) if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party
to the merger, if such Person survives said merger, or, if there is more than
one such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which have the greatest
aggregate market value of shares outstanding or (y) if the Person that is the
other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does
survive the merger (including the Company if it survives) or (z) the Person
resulting from the consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in (C) of the
first sentence in Section 13.1, the Person that is the party receiving the
greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such
transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such
transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning
power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the
assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of shares
outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any such case described in the foregoing
clause (A) or (B) of this Section 13.2, if the Common Shares of such Person are
24
<PAGE>
not at such time or have not been continuously over the preceding 12-month
period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, then (1) if such Person
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Shares of which
are and have been so registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to such
other Person, or (2) if such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of
more than one Person, the Common Shares of all of which are and have been so
registered, the term "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons
is the issuer of Common Shares having the greatest aggregate market value of
shares outstanding, or (3) if such Person is owned, directly or indirectly, by a
joint venture formed by two or more Persons that are not owned, directly or
indirectly, by the same Person, the rules set forth in clauses (1) and (2) above
shall apply to each of the owners having an interest in the venture as if the
Person owned by the joint venture was a Subsidiary of both or all of such joint
venturers, and the Principal Party in each such case shall bear the obligations
set forth in this Section 13 in the same ratio as its interest in such Person
bears to the total of such interests.
13.3. Approved Acquisitions. Notwithstanding anything contained
---------------------
herein to the contrary, in the event of any merger or other acquisition
transaction involving the Company pursuant to a merger or other acquisition
agreement between the Company and any Person (or one or more of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates) which agreement has been approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company prior to any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, this
Agreement and the rights of holders of Rights hereunder shall be terminated in
accordance with Section 7.1.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
---------------------------------------
14.1. Cash in Lieu of Fractional Rights. The Company shall not be
---------------------------------
required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which
evidence fractional Rights (except prior to the Distribution Date in accordance
with Section 11.15). 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 14.1, 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 New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or
admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market,
as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any such date
the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market
in the Rights selected by the
25
<PAGE>
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is
making a market in the Rights, the current market value of the Rights on such
date shall be the fair value of the Rights as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company, or, if at the time of such determination
there is an Acquiring Person, by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office, or if there are no Continuing Directors, by a nationally recognized
investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which
shall have the duty to make such determination in a reasonable and objective
manner, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
14.2. Cash in Lieu of Fractional Preferred Shares. 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 or exchange 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). Interests in
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, that 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 or exchanged as herein provided an amount in
cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market price of one
Preferred Share (as determined in accordance with Section 14.1) for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
14.3. Cash in Lieu of Fractional Common Shares. The Company shall
----------------------------------------
not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute
certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares upon the exercise or
exchange of Rights. 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
(as determined in accordance with Section 14.1) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
14.4. Waiver of Right to Receive Fractional Rights or Shares. The
------------------------------------------------------
holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives his right to
receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise or exchange
of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
----------------
Agreement, except the rights of action 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
26
<PAGE>
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 Right Certificate
(or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own
behalf and for his own benefit, enforce this Agreement, and may institute and
maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce this
Agreement, or otherwise enforce or act in respect of his 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 shall be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person (including, without limitation, the Company)
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) as of and after the Distribution Date, the Right
Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights
Agent if surrendered at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer
with all required certifications completed; 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.
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. 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 stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 24), 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
hereof.
27
<PAGE>
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent. The Company agrees to pay to
---------------------------
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon and, from
time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel
fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of
this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The
Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent 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 arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. Anything to the
contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for
special, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind
whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent
has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.
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 the Common Shares or for other
securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of
attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, instruction, 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.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
---------------------------------------------------------
Any corporation or limited liability company into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation or limited liability company resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a
party, or any corporation or limited liability company succeeding to the
corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto, PROVIDED that such corporation or limited liability
company 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.
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
28
<PAGE>
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:
20.1. Legal Counsel. The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel
-------------
selected by it (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.
20.2. Certificates as to Facts or Matters. 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 of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer,
the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Company
and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
20.3. Standard of Care. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder
----------------
only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
20.4. Reliance on Agreement and Right Certificates. 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 as to
its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all such
statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company
only.
20.5. No Responsibility as to Certain Matters. The Rights Agent
---------------------------------------
shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this
Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof
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 11.1.2) or any adjustment required under the provisions of
Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 27 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of
any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of
29
<PAGE>
facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the
exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after actual notice of any
such change or adjustment); 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 or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or
any Right Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when so
issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
20.6. Further Assurance by Company. The Company agrees that it will
----------------------------
perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed,
acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and
assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying
out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
20.7. Authorized Company Officers. 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 of Directors,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or
Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or
instructions in connection with its duties under this Agreement, 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 these instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for
written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent,
set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights
Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the
date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be
effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable to the Company for any action
taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal
included in any such application on or after the date specified therein (which
date shall not be less than three business days after the date any such officer
actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented
in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking of any such action (or
the effective date in the case of omission), the Rights Agent shall have
received written instructions in response to such application specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
20.8. Freedom to Trade in Company Securities. The Rights Agent and
--------------------------------------
any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell
or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become
pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be
interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as
fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other legal entity.
20.9. Reliance on Attorneys and Agents. 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
30
<PAGE>
accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such
attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act,
omission, default, neglect or misconduct, PROVIDED that reasonable care was
exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.
20.10. Incomplete Certificate. If, with respect to any Rights
----------------------
Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the
certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been
completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof), the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the
Company.
20.11. Rights Holders List. At any time and from time to time after
-------------------
the Distribution Date, upon the request of the Company, the Rights Agent shall
promptly deliver to the Company a list, as of the most recent practicable date
(or as of such earlier date as may be specified by the Company), of the holders
of record of Rights.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
----------------------
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as applicable, by
registered or certified mail. Following the Distribution Date, the Company
shall promptly notify the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail
of any such resignation. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the
Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as applicable, by registered
or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class
mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become
incapable of acting, the resigning, removed, or incapacitated Rights Agent shall
remit to the Company, or to any successor Rights Agent designated by the
Company, all books, records, funds, certificates or other documents or
instruments of any kind then in its possession which were acquired by such
resigning, removed or incapacitated Rights Agent in connection with its services
as Rights Agent hereunder, and shall thereafter be discharged from all duties
and obligations hereunder. Following notice of such removal, resignation or
incapacity, the Company shall appoint a successor to such Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
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 corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States or of the State of New York or the
State of California (or 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 New York or California) in good standing, having an office in the State of
New York or the State of California,
31
<PAGE>
which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate
trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state
authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a
combined capital and surplus of at least $10 million. After appointment, the
successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the
Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, as
applicable, and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in
writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give
any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the
Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be.
Section 22. Issuance of New 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 following the Distribution Date and
prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common
Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any
employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or
upon exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the
Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by
the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Right Certificates representing the
appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that (i) no such Right 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, (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 and (iii) at the
time of a determination by the Board of Directors to cause the Company to issue
a Right Certificate under clause (b) above, there must be Continuing Directors
then in office and any such determination shall require the approval of at least
a majority of such Continuing Directors.
Section 23. Redemption.
----------
Section 23.1. Right to Redeem. The Board of Directors of the Company
---------------
may, at its option, at any time prior to a Trigger Event, redeem all but not
less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per
Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such
redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"), and
the
32
<PAGE>
Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in Common Shares (based
on the "current per share market price," determined pursuant to Section 11.4, of
the Common Shares at the time of redemption), cash or any other form of
consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. The redemption of
the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such
basis and subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion may establish.
Section 23.2. Redemption Procedures. Immediately upon the action of
---------------------
the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights (or
at such later time as the Board of Directors may establish for the effectiveness
of such redemption), and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so
held. The Company shall promptly give public notice of such redemption;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice
shall not affect the validity of such redemption. The Company shall promptly
give, or cause the Rights Agent to give, notice of such redemption to the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the
Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the
transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption shall 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 27, and other than in connection with the purchase,
acquisition or redemption of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events. In case the Company shall
------------------------
propose at any time after the earlier of the Shares Acquisition Date and the
Distribution Date (a) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Shares (other than a regular periodic cash dividend at a rate not in
excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular periodic cash dividend
theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash dividends have not
theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the average net income
per share of the Company for the four quarters ended immediately prior to the
payment of such dividends, or a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination
or reclassification of the Common Shares), or (b) to offer to the holders of
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, or (c) to effect any reclassification of its
Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision
of outstanding Preferred Shares), or (d) 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 (other than pursuant to
a merger or other acquisition agreement of the type described in Section
1.3(ii)(A)(z)), or (e) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, or (f) to declare or pay any dividend on
33
<PAGE>
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 the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right
Certificate, in accordance with Section 25, a notice of such proposed action,
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend,
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up
is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Preferred Shares and/or Common 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 (a) or (b)
above at least ten (10) 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 (10) days prior to the date of the taking of such
proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Preferred Shares and/or Common Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
In case any event set forth in Section 11.1.2 or Section 13 shall
occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable
thereafter give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate,
in accordance with Section 25, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which
notice shall describe the event and the consequences of the event to holders of
Rights under Section 11.1.2 and Section 13, and (ii) all references in this
Section 24 to Preferred Shares shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common
Shares and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to
the Distribution Date a filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of securities of
the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement and no other
notice need be given.
Section 25. 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:
Southwest Water Company
225 North Barranca Avenue
West Covina. CA 91791-1605
Attention: Peter Moerbeek
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<PAGE>
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 and Section 24, 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:
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
400 South Hope Street, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Ian D. Gass
Fax: (213) 553-9735
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 (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing Common
Shares) 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 26. Supplements and Amendments. For so long as the Rights are
--------------------------
then redeemable, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the
Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision
of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights
or Common Shares. From and after the time that the Rights are no longer
redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holders of Rights (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (ii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder (which shortening or lengthening, after the time a Person becomes an
Acquiring Person, shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors and
shall require the approval of at least a majority of such Continuing Directors)
or (iii) to make any other changes or provisions in regard to matters or
questions arising hereunder which the Company may deem necessary or desirable,
including but not limited to extending the Final Expiration Date; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person), and no such supplement or
amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this
Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence;
PROVIDED FURTHER, that the right of the Board of Directors to extend the
Distribution Date shall not require any amendment or supplement hereunder. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which
states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms
of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment.
Without limiting the foregoing, at any time prior to such time as any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company and the Rights Agent may amend this
Agreement to lower the thresholds set forth in Sections 1.1 and 3.1 to not less
than the greater of (i) any percentage greater than the largest percentage of
the outstanding Common Shares then known by the Company to be beneficially owned
by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) and (ii) 10%.
35
<PAGE>
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any supplement or amendment to
this Agreement, after the time that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person shall
require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Continuing Directors.
Section 27. Exchange.
--------
27.1. Exchange of Common Shares for Rights. The Board of Directors
------------------------------------
of the Company may, at its option, at any time after the occurrence of a Trigger
Event, exchange Common Shares for 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 11.1.2) by exchanging at an exchange ratio
of that number of Common Shares having an aggregate value equal to the Spread
(with such value being based on the current per share market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11.4) on the date of the occurrence of a Trigger
Event) per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock
dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount per
Right being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Consideration").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to
effect such exchange at any time after any Acquiring Person shall have become
the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. From
and after the occurrence of an event specified in Section 13.1, any Rights that
theretofore have not been exchanged pursuant to this Section 27.1 shall
thereafter be exercisable only in accordance with Section 13 and may not be
exchanged pursuant to this Section 27.1. The exchange of the Rights by the Board
of Directors 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.
27.2. Exchange Procedures. Immediately upon the action of the Board
-------------------
of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange for any Rights pursuant to
Section 27.1 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 the Exchange Consideration. The Company
shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity
of such exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange
to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives
the notice. Each such notice of exchange shall state the method by which the
exchange of 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 Rights (other than
the Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1.2)
held by each holder of Rights.
27.3. Insufficient Shares. The Company may at its option
-------------------
substitute, and, in the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit an exchange of
Rights for Common Shares as contemplated in accordance with this Section 27, the
Company shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each Common
Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of
36
<PAGE>
Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or equivalent preferred stock, as such
term is defined in Section 11.2) such that the current per share market price
(determined pursuant to Section 11.4) of one Preferred Share (or equivalent
preferred share) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current
per share market price of one Common Share (determined pursuant to Section 11.4)
as of the date of such exchange.
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 or corporation 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. Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors. The
---------------------------------------------------
Board of Directors of the Company (in conjunction with the Continuing Directors
as specifically provided in this Agreement) or, where applicable as specifically
provided in this Agreement, the Continuing Directors shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise the rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors of the Company (in
conjunction with the Continuing Directors, as applicable) or the Continuing
Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not
redeem the Rights or amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board
of Directors of the Company or the Continuing Directors, as applicable, in good
faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights
Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other parties, and (y) not
subject the Board of Directors or the Continuing Directors, as applicable, to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.
Section 31. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
------------
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or
other authority to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 32. Governing Law. This Agreement and each Right Certificate
-------------
issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the
State of Delaware and for
37
<PAGE>
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 33. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
------------
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 34. Descriptive Heading. Descriptive headings of the several
-------------------
Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not
control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
38
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
By: _________________________________________
Name: Anton C. Garnier
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C.
By: _________________________________________
Name:
Title:
39
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
---------
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
of
SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
(Pursuant to Section 151 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law)
_____________________________
Southwest Water Company, a corporation organized and existing under
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies that the following resolution was adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation as required by Section 151 of the
General Corporation Law at a meeting duly called and held on April 6, 1998.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the
Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the "Board of
Directors" or the "Board") in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation of this Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a
series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), of
the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and
fixes the relative rights, powers and preferences, and qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall
----------------------
be designated as "Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series B
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series B Preferred
Stock shall be 100,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; PROVIDED, that no decrease shall reduce
the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock to a number less than the
number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon
the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation
convertible into Series B Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of this Corporation ranking prior
and superior to the Series B
1
<PAGE>
Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series
B Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Corporation, and of any other
stock ranking junior to the Series B Preferred 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 Series B Preferred Stock, in
an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of
(a) $1.00 or (b) 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, since the first issuance of any
share or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision,
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of
Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock,
then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series B
Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which
is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series B Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section 2
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided
that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on
the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of
$1.00 per share on the Series B Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be
payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series B Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue
of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue
from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the
determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to
receive a
2
<PAGE>
quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be
cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid
dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series
B Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends
at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata
on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of
holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment
of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be
not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series B
-------------
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to
100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay
any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or
effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per
share to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such
number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator
of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or
by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders
of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in
arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and
distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of
3
<PAGE>
Series B Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred
Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions,
on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B
Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred
Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase
or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for
shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (both as to
dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the
Series B Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration
any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking
on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock, except in accordance
with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined
by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective
annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the
respective Series and classes, shall determine in good faith will
result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
(A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such
time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Preferred
-----------------
Stock 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 Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of
Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as
otherwise required by law.
4
<PAGE>
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. (A) Upon any
--------------------------------------
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
otherwise no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have received an amount per share
(the "Series B Liquidation Preference") equal to $100 per share, plus an amount
equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not
declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of
Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive 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 shares
of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity
(either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series B Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series B
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation,
dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of
shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
under the proviso in clause (1) 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 are
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference
and the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of
the Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series B Preferred
Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for such distribution
shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock
and the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective
liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or
with another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other
corporation into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation within the
meaning of this Section 6.
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 Series B Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or
5
<PAGE>
any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for
which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or
otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a
greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the
amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or
change of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock
-------------
shall not be redeemable by the Company.
Section 9. Rank. The Series B Preferred Stock shall rank, with
----
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, junior to all series of any other
class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock, except to the extent that any such
other series specifically provides that it shall rank on a parity with or junior
to the Series B Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. At any time any shares of Series B Preferred
---------
Stock are outstanding, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall
not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers,
preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Stock so as to affect
them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-
thirds of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting separately
as a single class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. Series B Preferred Stock may be
-----------------
issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to
such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends,
participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of
holders of Series B Preferred Stock.
6
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on
behalf of the Corporation by its Chairman of the Board this 6th day of April,
1998.
______________________________
Anton C. Garnier
Chairman of the Board
7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
---------
[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. R- _______ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER APRIL 6, 2008 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION OR
EXCHANGE IS GIVEN OR IF THE COMPANY IS MERGED OR ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO AN
AGREEMENT OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED IN SECTION 1.3(ii)(A)(z) OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.01 PER RIGHT, AND TO EXCHANGE ON
THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
---------------------------
(SPECIFIED IN SECTION 11.1.2 OF THE AGREEMENT), RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY OR TRANSFERRED TO AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT), OR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS WILL BECOME NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGER BE TRANSFERABLE.
----------------------
Right Certificate
SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
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 April 6, 1998, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Agreement"), between Southwest Water Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., a
limited liability company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase
from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to 5:00 P.M.
(California time) on April 6, 2008, at the offices of the Rights Agent, or its
successors as Rights Agent, designated for such purpose, one one-hundredth of a
fully paid, nonassessable share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company, at a
purchase price of $65.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, subject to
adjustment (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right
Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and certification 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 thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are
the number and Purchase Price as of ________, ____ based on the Preferred Shares
as constituted at such date. Capitalized terms used in this Right Certificate
without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
As provided in the Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of Preferred
Shares 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.
1
<PAGE>
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which 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 Agreement are
on file at the principal offices of the Company and the Rights Agent.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the 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 one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Rights evidenced by the Right
Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to
purchase. If this Right Certificate shall 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 Agreement, the Board of Directors
may, at its option, (i) redeem the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate at
a redemption price of $.01 per Right or (ii) exchange Common Shares for the
Rights evidenced by this Certificate, in whole or in part.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions of Preferred Shares which
are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts), but in lieu
thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, 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
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the 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 Agreement.
If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of the 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 the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
2
<PAGE>
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or binding for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of _______________.
Attest: SOUTHWEST WATER COMPANY
By ______________________ By _________________________________
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C., as Rights Agent
By_____________________________
Authorized Signature
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 _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address
of transferee)
Rights evidenced by 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.
Dated: ________________
_________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
4
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
beneficially owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or an Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
from any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: __________________
_________________________
Signature
5
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise the Right Certificate.)
To: Southwest Water Company
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 (or such other
securities or property of the Company or of any other Person which may be
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for
such shares be issued in the name of:
____________________________________________________________
(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
or other identifying number
____________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
____________________________________________________________
Dated: __________________
_________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
________________________
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
as defined in Rule 17Ad-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
1
<PAGE>
The undersigned hereby certifies that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not
beneficially owned by and are not being assigned to an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or an Associate thereof; and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate
from any person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated:_______________
_________________________
Signature
________________________________________________________________________________
NOTICE
------
The signature in the foregoing Form of Assignment and Form of Election
to Purchase must conform to the name as written upon the face of this Right
Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatsoever.
In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of
Assignment or Form of Election to Purchase is not completed, the Company will
deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to
be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate hereof and such Assignment
or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
---------
As described in the Rights Agreement, Rights which are
-------------------------------------------------------
held by or have been held by an Acquiring Person or Associates
--------------------------------------------------------------
or Affiliates thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and certain
----------------------------------------------------------------------
transferees thereof shall become null and void and will no longer be
--------------------------------------------------------------------
transferable.
-------------
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On April 6, 1998 the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each share of common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Shares"),
of the Company outstanding at the close of business on April 27, 1998 (the
"Record Date"). As long as the Rights are attached to the Common Shares, the
Company will issue one Right (subject to adjustment) with each new Common Share
so that all such shares will have attached Rights. When exercisable, each Right
will entitle the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-
hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Shares") at a price of $65.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase Price"). The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of April 6, 1998, as
the same may be amended from time to time (the "Agreement"), between the Company
and ChaseMellon Shareholders Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten (10) days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has
acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more
of the Common Shares (an "Acquiring Person") or (ii) ten (10) business days (or
such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior
to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring
Person) following the commencement or announcement of an intention to make a
tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the
beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the Common Shares
(the earlier of (i) and (ii) being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate together
with a copy of this Summary of Rights.
The Agreement provides that until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption exchange, termination, or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will
be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution
Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share
certificates issued after the close of business on the Record Date upon transfer
or new issuance of the Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption,
exchange, termination or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer
of any certificates for Common Shares, with or without such notation or a copy
of this Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
the Rights
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("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 April 6, 2008, subject to the Company's right to extend
such date (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by
the Company or terminated.
Each Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will be
entitled, when, as and if declared, 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, if any, declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the
Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment
of $100 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends) but will be entitled
to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each
Preferred Share will have 100 votes and will vote 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. Preferred Shares will
not be redeemable. These rights are protected by customary antidilution
provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred Share's dividend,
liquidation and voting rights, the value of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one Common Share.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Preferred
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares or convertible
securities at less than the current market price of the Preferred Shares or
(iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of
indebtedness, cash, securities or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends at a rate not in excess of 125% of the rate of the last regular
periodic cash dividend theretofore paid or, in case regular periodic cash
dividends have not theretofore been paid, at a rate not in excess of 50% of the
average net income per share of the Company for the four quarters ended
immediately prior to the payment of such dividend, or dividends payable in
Preferred Shares (which dividends will be subject to the adjustment described in
clause (i) above)) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person or if the
Company were the surviving corporation in a merger with an Acquiring Person or
any affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person and the Common Shares were not
changed or exchanged, each holder of a Right, other than Rights that are or were
acquired or beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which Rights will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the then current
Purchase Price of the Right. In the event that, after a person has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company were acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or more than 50% of its
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assets or earning power were sold, proper provision shall be made so that each
holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current Purchase Price of the Right, that number of shares
of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction
would have a market value of two times the then current Purchase Price of the
Right.
At any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to
the earlier of one of the events described in the last sentence of the previous
paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors may cause the Company to
exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person which will
have become void), in whole or in part, for Common Shares at an exchange rate of
one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment).
No adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative
adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No
fractional Preferred Shares or Common Shares will be issued (other than
fractions of Preferred Shares which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by
depository receipts), and in lieu thereof, a payment in cash will be made based
on the market price of the Preferred Shares or Common Shares on the last trading
date prior to the date of exercise.
The Rights may be redeemed in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price") by the Board of Directors at any time
prior to the time that an Acquiring Person has become such. 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.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company beyond those as an existing stockholder,
including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Any of the provisions of the Agreement may be amended by the Board of
Directors of the Company for so long as the Rights are then redeemable, and
after the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may amend or supplement
the Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Rights.
A copy of the Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of
the Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary
description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
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EXHIBIT 99
COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
WEST COVINA, Calif., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- At its meeting on April 6, 1998,
the Board of Directors of Southwest Water Company (Nasdaq: SWWC-news) adopted a
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shareholder rights plan. The purpose of the Rights Plan is to encourage anyone
seeking to acquire the company to negotiate with the Board prior to attempting a
takeover.
The Rights Plan is not being adopted in response to any specific takeover
proposal. Rather, the Board determined to adopt the Rights Plan now to protect
shareholder interests in the future. The Rights Plan is not intended to prevent
a takeover, nor to prevent substantial investment in the Company on terms that
are fair to all shareholders. Instead, it is designed to guard against partial
tender offers, open market accumulations and other abusive tactics that might
result in an acquirer gaining control of the Company without paying all
shareholders a control premium.
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Plan, the Board declared a
dividend distribution of one Preferred Share Purchase Right for each outstanding
share of Southwest Water common stock. The Rights will be distributed to
shareholders of record on April 27, 1998. When and if they were to become
exercisable, each Right would entitle the holder to purchase from the Company
one one-hundredth (1/100) of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred
stock, par value of $.01, at an exercise price of $65. Generally, each one one-
hundredth share of this Preferred stock will have the same economic and voting
rights as one share of common stock.
Initially, no separate Rights certificate will be issued as the Rights are
attached to and trade with the common stock as a single unit. Subject to
limited exceptions, the Rights will separate from the common stock and become
exercisable if a person or group acquires (an Acquiring Person) 15 percent or
more of the Company's common stock or if a potential Acquiring Person were to
announce a tender offer for 15 percent or more of the common stock.
When there is an Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle its holder to
purchase, at the Right's then-current exercise price, a number of common shares
having a market value at that time of twice the Right's exercise price. Rights
held by an Acquiring Person will become void and cannot be used to purchase
shares at the bargain purchase price.
Prior to exercise (which cannot occur until there is an Acquiring Person), the
Right by itself has no voting or other shareholder rights. The Rights have a
ten-year life, expiring on April 6, 2008. The Board may redeem the Rights at a
price of $.01 per right at any time before there is an Acquiring Person.
At this time, there is no need for shareholders to make any decisions or take
any action regarding the Rights, nor exchange their common share certificates.
The Rights are not currently exercisable and will not be unless there is an
Acquiring Person.
<PAGE>
The Southwest Water Board of Directors adopted the shareholder Rights Plan to
ensure that all shareholders can realize the long-term value of their investment
in the Company. Specific information regarding the Rights Plan will be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Southwest Water Company operates and manages water supply and wastewater
treatment systems, some of which are owned by the company and are regulated
public utilities. The remainder, owned by cities, utility districts and private
companies, are operated and managed by Southwest Water under contract. More
than 40 communities depend on the company for high-quality water and wastewater
services.
