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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 and Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 1997
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-13640 63-1121255
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
126 North Norton Avenue, Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (205) 245-4365
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On November 19, 1997, the Board of Directors of SouthFirst Bancshares,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one Common Stock Purchase Right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The dividend is payable on December 8, 1997
(the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one-hundredth
(1/100) of a share of the Common Stock at a price of $60.00 per share (the
"Purchase Price"), or $.60 per one-hundredth of a share, subject to adjustment.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement
dated as of December 8, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Rights Agreement"), between the Company and Registrar and Transfer Company, as
Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 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 of, 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 outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"),
the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Stock
certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate
together with a copy of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of the Common
Stock which accompanies the letter distributed to shareholders.
Existing holdings of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock will not
cause the Rights to be exercisable, or entitle the holders of Rights to purchase
additional shares of the Company or any other entity, provided that such
shareholders dispose of sufficient shares such that such person shall thereafter
beneficially own less than 15% of the Common Stock then outstanding.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the
Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of the Common Stock, will also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock
represented by such certificate. 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 Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire, if not previously exercised, on November 30, 2007 (the "Final
Expiration Date"), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the
Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as
described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of the Common
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is
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
Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Stock of certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase the Common Stock at a price, or
securities convertible into the Common Stock with a conversion price, less than
the then-current market price of the Common Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Common
Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to
above).
The number of outstanding Rights is also subject to adjustment in the
event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or
combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.
In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right at the
then-current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of Common Stock
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold,
proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the
then-current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock
of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or
its parent), which number of shares at the time of such transaction will have a
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or
the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights
(other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become void),
in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock, at an exchange ratio of one
share of Common Stock per Right (the "Exchange Ratio").
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional
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shares of the Common Stock will be issued (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock, which may, at
the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu
thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Common Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors of
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01
per Right (the "Redemption Price"). 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.
For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except
with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner. After the
Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the
redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner that does not adversely affect
the interests of holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
on terms not approved by the Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer
conditioned on a substantial number of Rights being acquired. However, the
Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination
approved by the Board of Directors since (subject to the limitations described
above) the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at the Redemption Price prior
to the Distribution Date. Thus, the Rights are intended to encourage persons who
may seek to acquire control of the Company to initiate such an acquisition
through negotiations with the Board of Directors.
As of December 8, 1997, there were 863,200 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding, 15,600 shares held in treasury, and an aggregate of
83,000 shares reserved for issuance. One Right will be distributed to
stockholders of the Company for each share of Common Stock owned of record by
them on December 8, 1997. As long as the Rights are attached to the Common
Stock, the Company will issue one Right with each new share of Common Stock so
that all such shares will have attached Rights.
The Rights Agreement, including the Form of Right Certificate attached
as Exhibit A thereto, and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Common
Stock attached as Exhibit B thereto, together with a letter to the Company's
stockholders, dated December 17, 1997, explaining the Rights, and a Press
Release, dated November 19, 1997, are attached hereto as exhibits and are
incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of December 8, 1997, between SouthFirst
Bancshares, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent, which
includes the Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit A, and the Summary of Rights
to Purchase Shares of Common Stock as Exhibit B.
20.1 Letter to SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. stockholders, dated December
17, 1997.
99.1 Press Release, dated November 19, 1997.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated as of December 16, 1997 SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
By: /s/ Donald C. Stroup
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Donald C. Stroup
President and
Chief Executive Officer
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Exhibit Index
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description Page
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<S> <C> <C>
4.1 Rights Agreement, dated as of December 8, 1997, between
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. and Registrar and Transfer Company,
as Rights Agent, which includes the Form of Right Certificate as
Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of
Common Stock as Exhibit B.
20.1 Letter to SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. stockholders, dated
December 17, 1997.
99.1 Press Release, dated November 19, 1997.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 4.1
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 8, 1997
Between
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
and
Registrar and Transfer Company
as Rights Agent
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Section 1. Certain Definitions............................................................................ 1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.................................................................... 5
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates................................................................... 5
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.................................................................... 7
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.............................................................. 8
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.................................................. 8
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.................................. 9
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates............................................11
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock..................................................11
Section 10. Common Stock Record Date.......................................................................12
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights
13
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.....................................20
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power...........................20
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................................................22
Section 15. Rights of Action...............................................................................23
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders....................................................................23
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.............................................24
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................24
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................25
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.........................................................................25
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.........................................................................27
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
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Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates............................................................28
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.....................................................................28
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................31
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments.....................................................................32
Section 27. Successors.....................................................................................33
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board, Etc...................................................33
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement.....................................................................33
Section 30. Severability...................................................................................33
Section 31. Governing Law..................................................................................34
Section 32. Counterparts...................................................................................34
Section 33. Descriptive Headings...........................................................................34
</TABLE>
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 8, 1997 (this "Agreement"),
between SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
Registrar and Transfer Company (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, on November 19, 1997 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"),
the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company authorized and declared a
dividend distribution of one Right for each share of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company outstanding at the close of business on December
8, 1997 (the "Record Date"), and has authorized the issuance of one Right (as
such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of Section
11(p) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the
Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury)
and the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in Section 3 hereof) each
Right initially representing the right to purchase one-hundredth of a share of
Common Stock of the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is
hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates
of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of
Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any
Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of
any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any Person or entity organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (v)
any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such
Person, would be an Acquiring Person solely by reason of (A) being the
Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock, the Beneficial Ownership of which
was acquired by such Person pursuant to any action or transaction or series of
related actions or transactions approved by the Board of Directors (provided
that at the time of such approval of the Board there are then in office not less
than two Continuing Directors (as such term is hereinafter defined) and such
action or transaction or series of related actions or transactions are approved
by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office) before such Person
otherwise became an Acquiring Person or (B) a reduction in the number of issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to a transaction
or a series of related transactions approved by the Board of Directors (provided
that at the time of such approval of the Board of Directors there are then in
office not less than two Continuing Directors and such transaction or series of
related
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transactions are approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in
office); provided, further, however, that in the event that such Person
described in the foregoing clause (v) does not become an Acquiring Person by
reason of subclause (A) or (B) of said clause (v), such Person shall nonetheless
become an Acquiring Person in the event such Person thereafter acquires
Beneficial Ownership of an additional 1% of the Common Stock of the Company,
unless the acquisition of such additional Common Stock would not result in such
Person becoming an Acquiring Person by reason of subclause (A) or (B) of said
clause (v), (vi) any such Person who has reported or is required to report such
ownership on Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or
successor report) which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or reserve
the right to control or influence the management or policies of the Company or
engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such Schedule (other than
the disposition of the Common Stock) and, within 10 Business Days of being
requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same, certifies to the
Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 15%
inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together
with all Affiliates and Associates, within 45 Days following the date of this
Agreement disposes of sufficient shares such that such Person shall be and then
remain thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding; provided, however, that if the Person requested to so
certify fails to do so within 10 Business Days, then such Person shall become an
Acquiring Person immediately after such 10 Business Day Period or (vii) any such
Person who as of the date of this Agreement is the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the shares of Common Stock outstanding and who within 45 Days following
the date of this Agreement disposes of sufficient shares such that such Person
shall be and then remain thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 15% of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
(b) "Affiliate", and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings
ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the "Exchange Act").
(c) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be
deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether
such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of
time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether
or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange
rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however,
that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to
"beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates
or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase
or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any
time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities
issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a
Triggering Event which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date
or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof (the
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"Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(a)(i) hereof in connection
with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of
or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act), including
pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not
in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the
"Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under
this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or
understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or
understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in
response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to,
and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules
and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then
reportable by such Person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or
any comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which
such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing),
for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a
revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of
this paragraph (c)) or disposing of any voting securities of the
Company; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall
cause a person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to
be the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities
acquired through such person's participation in good faith in a firm
commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the
date of such acquisition or such period of time as shall be determined
by the Board.
(d) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday
or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Alabama are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
(e) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M.,
Birmingham, Alabama time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is
not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Birmingham, Alabama time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per
share of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any
Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with
the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest
having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.
(g) "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board,
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 a representative of an
Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate,
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and was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any
Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, 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 a representative 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.
(h) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier of (x) November
30, 2007 or (y) the date of consummation of a transaction in which the Company
shall merge or consolidate with another Person (whether or not the Company shall
be the surviving corporation in such transaction) and which shall have been
approved by the Board if the Board then includes one or more Continuing
Directors and a majority of such Continuing Directors shall have joined in such
approval.
(i) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity.
(j) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described in
Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(k) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clauses
(x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(l) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public
announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without
limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by
the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any
corporation of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect at least
a majority of the directors of such corporation is beneficially owned, directly
or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(n) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii) Event or any
Section 13 Event.
(o) The following terms shall have the meaning specified in the
indicated Section or Sections of this Agreement:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Defined Term Section
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<S> <C>
Act 9(c)
Adjustment Shares 11(a)(ii)
Agreement Recitals
Board Recitals
Certificate of Incorporation 11(a)(iii)
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common Stock Equivalents 11(a)(iii)
Company Recitals, 13(a)
Current Market Price 11(d)
Current Value 11(a)(iii)
Distribution Date 3(a)
Expiration Date 7(a)
NYSE 11(d)
Principal Party 13(b)
Purchase Price 4(a), 11(a)(ii), 13(a)
Record Date Recitals
Redemption Price 23(a)
Rights Recitals
Rights Agent Recitals
Rights Certificates 3(a)
Rights Dividend Declaration Date Recitals
Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date 11(a)(iii)
Spread 11(a)(iii)
Substitution Period 11(a)(iii)
Trading Days 11(d)
</TABLE>
2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights
Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in
accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be
the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the close of business on the tenth day
after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth day after the Stock
Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the
Record Date), or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day (or such
later date as may be determined by action of the Board (but only if at the time
of such determination by the Board there are then in office not less than two
Continuing Directors and such action is approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors then in office) prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring
Person) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized,
appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation
thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares
of Common Stock then outstanding (the earlier of (i) or (ii) being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the
certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names
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of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be
deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and
(y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the
underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon
as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more right certificates,
in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Rights Certificates"),
evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to
adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of
Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) hereof,
at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make
the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section
14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of
Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of
and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such
Rights Certificates.
(b) With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common
Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the
earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such term is defined
in Section 7 hereof), the transfer of any certificates representing shares of
Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute
the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of Common Stock
which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury)
after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the
Expiration Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall
also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following
legend:
This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof
to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") and Registrar and Transfer
Company (the "Rights Agent"), dated as of December 8, 1997 (the "Rights
Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. Under certain circumstances, as set forth
in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. will mail to the holder of this certificate
a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing,
without charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor.
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS
ISSUED TO, OR HELD BY, ANY PERSON WHO IS, WAS OR BECOMES AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED
IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), WHETHER CURRENTLY HELD BY OR ON BEHALF OF
SUCH PERSON OR BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
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With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date.
4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase
and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and may have such marks
of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company and the Rights Agent may deem appropriate and as
are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be
required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made
pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which
the Rights may from time to time be listed or any securities association on
whose interdealer quotation system the Rights may be from time to time
authorized for quotation, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed,
shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock as
shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (the "Purchase
Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of
each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as
provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring
Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee
of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate thereof) who becomes a
transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate thereof) who becomes a
transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such
Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any
continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred
Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board has determined is part of a plan,
arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance
of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6
or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any
other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the
extent feasible) the following legend:
The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are
defined in the Rights Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate
and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the
circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
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<PAGE> 11
5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President,
either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the
Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile
signature. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned (or by
facsimile if permitted by law) by the Rights Agent, and shall not be valid for
any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who
shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer
of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and
delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be
countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with
the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights
Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights
Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the
actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, all be a proper officer
of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the
execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the
appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or
transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued
hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective
holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face
by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and
Section 14 hereof, at, any time after the close of business on the Distribution
Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the Expiration Date, any
Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the
registered holder to purchase a like number of one-hundredths of a share of
Common Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be, as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any
action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights
Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the
certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such
Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or
Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably
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<PAGE> 12
request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e)
and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a
Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split
up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity
or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company
and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon
surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if
mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like
tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered
owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any
Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to
the total number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock (or, following a
Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as
to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the
earlier of (i) the close of business on the Final Expiration Date, or (ii) the
time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the
earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").
(b) The Purchase Price for each one-hundredth of a share of Common
Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $60.00 per share,
and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11
and 13(a) hereof and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable
Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed,
accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase
Price per one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock (or other securities, cash or
other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased as set forth below and an
amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer
agent of the shares of Common Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is
the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of shares
of Common Stock 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
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<PAGE> 13
elected to deposit the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one-hundredths
of a share of Common Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates
for the shares of Common Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited
by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the
depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company
the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or
depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver
such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights
Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof) shall be made in cash or by certified
bank check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company or
such agent of the Company as the Company may designate. 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(a) hereof, the Company will
make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other
property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence
of a Triggering Event that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be
exercised so that only whole shares of Common Stock would be issued.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall
exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued
by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the registered
holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be
designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from
and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights
beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person, or an Associate or Affiliate of
an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
Associate or Affiliate thereof ) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any
Associate or Affiliate thereof) 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 has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding
which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such
Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether
under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder
of Rights Certificates or any other Person as a result of its failure to make
any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliates,
Associates or transferees hereunder.
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<PAGE> 14
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any
action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported
exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered holder shall have
(i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of election to
purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for
such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates
thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.
8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights
Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the company, destroy or cause to be destroyed, such cancelled Rights
Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) Subject to the Company's rights under Section 11(a)(iii) hereof
to otherwise fulfill its obligations hereunder, the Company covenants and agrees
that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and
unissued shares of Common Stock that number of shares of Common Stock (or other
securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all
outstanding Rights; provided, however, that such action need not be taken with
respect to shares of Common Stock (or other securities) issuable upon exercise
of the Rights until after such time as the rights become exercisable, and with
respect to the shares of Common Stock (or other securities) issuable upon
occurrence of a Triggering Event, until the occurrence of such event.
(b) So long as the shares of Common Stock (and, following the
occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) issuable and deliverable
upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities
exchange or authorized for quotation on any interdealer quotation system of any
securities association, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from
and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for
such issuance to be listed on such exchange or quoted on such system upon
official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as
practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon
exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, or as may be required by law following the Distribution Date, a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), with
respect to the
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securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii)
cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable
after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain
effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act)
until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer
exercisable for such securities and (B) the date of the expiration of the
Rights. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or
to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various
states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may
temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days after
the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the
exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration
statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the
Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such
time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition, if the Company shall
determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution
Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until
such time as a registration statement has been declared effective.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights
shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in
such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not
be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have
been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock (and,
following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, other securities) delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
shares (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when
due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which
may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates
and of any certificates for a number of shares of Common Stock (or other
securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall
not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock (or
other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than that of,
the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered
for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of shares of
Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that
of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall
have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights
Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.
10. Common Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name any certificate
for a number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be)
is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have
become the holder of record of such share of Common Stock (or other securities,
as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
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<PAGE> 16
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Common Stock (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 Common Stock (or other securities, as the
case may be) transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of
the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares
for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the
right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any
preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any
proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number
of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered by each
Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of
this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of
Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (C) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any
shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including
any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which
the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise
provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in
effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date
of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of
shares of Common Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such
date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right
exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the
Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common
Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been
exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock
transfer books of the Company were open, he or she would have owned, upon such
exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision,
combination or reclassification. If an event occurs which would require an
adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the
adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and
shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof.
(ii) In the event any Person shall become an Acquiring Person,
unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is a
transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or is an acquisition of shares of
Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding
shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority
of the members of the Board and who are not representatives, nominees,
Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one
or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to
stockholders (taking into account all factors which such members of the Board
deem relevant including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be
achieved if the
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<PAGE> 17
Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum
value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, then, promptly following the occurrence of such event, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below
and in Section 7(e) hereof) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one-hundredths of a share of Common
Stock for which a Right was theretofore exercisable, such number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x)
multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one-hundredths
of a share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, and (y) dividing that
product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to
as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement)
by 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof)
per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of
Shares, the "Adjustment Shares").
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which
are authorized by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the
"Certificate of Incorporation"), but not outstanding or reserved for issuance
for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit
the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph
(ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall to the extent permitted by
applicable law and any material agreements then in effect to which the Company
is a party (A) determine the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value"), and (B) with respect to each Right
(subject to Section 7(e) hereof), make adequate provision to substitute for the
Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right and payment of the applicable
Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other
equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or
units of shares, of preferred stock of the Company, which the Board has deemed
to have essentially the same value or economic rights as shares of Common Stock
(such shares of preferred stock being referred to as "Common Stock
Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current
Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such
aggregate value has been determined by the Board based upon the advice of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; 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 later
of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on
which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the
later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger
Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for
exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares
of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which
shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. For purposes of
the preceding sentence, the term "Spread" shall mean the excess of (i) the
Current Value over (ii) the Purchase Price. If the Board determines in good
faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could
be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30)
day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more
than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that
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<PAGE> 18
the Company may seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such
additional shares (such thirty (30 day period, as it may be extended, is herein
called the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that action is to be taken
pursuant to the first and/or third sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the
Company (1) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action
shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (2) may suspend the
exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in
order to seek such shareholder approval for such authorization of additional
shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant
to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any
such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the
exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public
announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes
of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of each Adjustment Share shall be the
Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(ii)
Trigger Date and the per share or per unit value of any Common Stock Equivalent
shall be deemed to equal the current market price per share of the Common Stock
on such date.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of
rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them to
subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar
days after such record date) Common Stock (or shares having the same rights,
privileges and preferences as the shares of Common Stock ("equivalent common
stock")) or securities convertible into Common Stock or equivalent preferred
stock at a price per share, of Common Stock or per share of equivalent common
stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into
Common Stock or equivalent common stock) less than the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such
record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be
determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of
Common Stock which the aggregate offering Price of the total number of shares of
Common Stock and/or equivalent common stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record
date, plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock and/or equivalent
common stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the
convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such
subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which
may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as
determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in
a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent
and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the
account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any
such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a
record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so
issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which
would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution
to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in
connection with a consolidation or
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<PAGE> 19
merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of
evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend
out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a
dividend payable in Common Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock
other than Common Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those
referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after
such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the Current Market Price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, less the fair market
value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the
cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such
subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Common Stock and the
denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock. Such adjustments shall be
made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that
such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the
Purchase Price which would have been in effect if such record date had not been
fixed.
(d) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than
computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the "Current Market
Price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is herein defined) immediately prior to
such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)
hereof, the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on any date shall be
deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common
Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date;
provided, however, that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of
the Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the
issuer of such Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common
Stock payable in shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into
shares of such Common Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision,
combination or reclassification of such Common Stock, and the ex-dividend date
for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the
commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day
period, as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market
Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading. The
closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or
admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Common
Stock 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
shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading or, if the shares of
Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high
bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System
("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the shares
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<PAGE> 20
of Common Stock are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making
a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board. If on any such date no
market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such
shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used. The
term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading
is open for the transaction of business or, if the shares of Common Stock are
not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, a Business
Day. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded,
Current Market Price per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined
in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a
statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment
in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an
increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price;
provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e)
are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made
to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock
or other share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later
than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which
mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a)(ii) or Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised
shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Common
Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of
any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
revisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b),
(c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms
to any such other shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any
adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one-hundredths of a
share of Common Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of
the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided
in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the
calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately
prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one-hundredths of a
share of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth) obtained by
(i) multiplying (x) the number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock
covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase
Price in effect immediately prior to such
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<PAGE> 21
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of
the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in
the number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock purchasable upon the
exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the
number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one-hundredths of a
share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to
such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the
number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest
one ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall
make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights,
indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the
amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which
the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the
date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon
each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the
Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of
record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates
evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of
the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in
substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders
prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the
Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders
shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and counter-signed in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price
or the number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one-hundredth of a share
of Common Stock and the number of one-hundredths of a share of Common Stock
which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing
the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the number of
one-hundredths of a share of Common 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 such number of one-hundredths of a share of Common
Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect
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<PAGE> 22
to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any
Right exercised after such record date the number of shares of Common Stock and
other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise over and above the number of shares of Common Stock and other capital
stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the
basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in
addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to
the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board shall determine to be
advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Common
Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Common Stock at less than
the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Common
Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights,
options or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the
Company to holders of its Common Stock shall not be taxable to such
stockholders.
(n) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time
after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)
hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of
the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii)
sell or transfer (or permit a Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one
transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning
power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the
Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons
(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the
time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any
rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in
effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits
intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or
immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale, the shareholders of the
Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes
of Section 13(a) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously
owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.
(o) The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution
Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or Section 26 hereof, take
(or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is
taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially
or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(p) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in
the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend
Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on
the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
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<PAGE> 23
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the occurrence of such event.
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such
adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment,
(b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with the transfer agent for the
Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a brief summary thereof
to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date,
to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in
accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power.
(a) In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date,
directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with
and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not
be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y)
any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or
into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
corporation of such consolidation or merger and, in connection with such
consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other
Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or
earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning
power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or
Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), then, and in
each such case (except as may be contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof), proper
provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right, except as provided
in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the
exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal
Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens,
encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal
to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the
number of shares of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately
prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii)
Event has occurred prior to
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<PAGE> 24
the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such
shares for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such first occurrence), and dividing that product (which,
following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as
the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by
(2) 50% of the current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of
consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall
thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event,
all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii)
the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party,
it being specifically intended that the revisions of Section 11 hereof shall
apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section
13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common
Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be
necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable,
as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock
thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions
of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence
of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or
(y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the
issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the
Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, and if no
securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such
merger or consolidation; and
(ii) in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of
the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party
receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power
transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions;
provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person
is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12)
month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is
a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is
and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person;
and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more
than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so
registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the
issuer of the Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.
(c) The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger,
sale or transfer unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of
authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for
issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this
Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall
have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement
providing for the
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<PAGE> 25
terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further
providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation,
merger or sale of assets mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Section 13, the
Principal Party will
(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise
of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a
prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the
Expiration Date; and
(ii) will deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial
statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which
comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form
10 under the Exchange Act.
The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Section 13 Event
shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the
Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become
exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in subparagraphs
(x) and (y) of Section 13(a) if (i) such transaction is consummated with a
Person or Persons who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer
or exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which complies with
the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (or a wholly owned subsidiary of any
such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per share of Common Stock offered in
such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Stock paid to
all holders of shares of Common Stock whose shares were purchased pursuant to
such tender offer or exchange offer and (iii) the form of consideration being
offered to the remaining holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to such
transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such
tender offer or exchange offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction
contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights,
except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p) hereof, or to
distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such
fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights
Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be
issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market
value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market
value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading
Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have
been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for any day shall be
the last 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
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<PAGE> 26
any such date the Rights are not quoted by such an organization, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Rights selected by the Board. If on any such date no such
market maker is making a market in the Rights the fair value of the Rights on
such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which
evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of
Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights
Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount
in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Value of one share of
Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Current Market Value of
one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly
waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this Agreement
are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and,
prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and
any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution
Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the
holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of
the Common Stock), may, in his or her own behalf and for his or her own benefit,
enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against
the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such
purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and
with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed;
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<PAGE> 27
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the Company
and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights
Certificate or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock
certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder
of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its
obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or
commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or
enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder, as
such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock or
any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any
Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
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<PAGE> 28
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to
the stock transfer or shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this
Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such corporation
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be
legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
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<PAGE> 29
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement
the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter
(including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the
determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company
prior to taking, or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization
to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under
the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own
gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of
the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights
Certificates or be required to verify the same except as to its countersignature
on such Rights Certificates), but all such statements and recitals are and shall
be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any 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 Rights Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate;
nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of
Section 11 or Section 13 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount
of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would
require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights
evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or
other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights
Certificate or as to condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights
Certificate; nor shall it whether any shares of Common Stock or other securities
will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge
and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all
such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be
required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights
Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any
Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company,
and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its
duties,
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<PAGE> 30
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.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting
in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or
powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or
through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the
selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights
if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds
or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(k) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the
Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of
assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not
been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2
thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such
requested exercise of transfer without first consulting with the Company.
(l) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for failure to
perform any duties except as specifically set forth herein and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights
Agent whose duties and obligations are ministerial and shall be determined
solely by the express provisions hereof.
21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon
thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer
agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in
writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may
be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock, by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail. If the
Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days
after giving notice of such
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<PAGE> 31
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of the State of Alabama, in good
standing, 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, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent,
has, or is an affiliate of a corporation which has, a combined capital and
surplus of at least $100,000,000. 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 related documents, information and property at the time held by it
hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or
deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the
predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a
notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.
Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or
removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as
the case may be.
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property
purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of
shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the
redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to
shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock
options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the
Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities
hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Board of the Company, issue Rights Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance
or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such
issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to
the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and
(ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance
thereof.
23. Redemption and Termination.
(a) The Board of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior
to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day following the Stock
Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
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<PAGE> 32
Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of
business on the tenth day following the Record Date), or (ii) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at
a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction
occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Price"); provided, however, that if the Board of
Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights in either of the
circumstances set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) below, then there must be
Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the
concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors if: (i) such
authorization occurs on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person,
or (ii) such authorization occurs on or after the date of a change (resulting
from a proxy or consent solicitation) in a majority of the directors in office
at the commencement of such solicitation if any Person who is a participant in
such solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation,
a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good
faith) that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to
take, or may consider taking, any action which would result in such Person
becoming an Acquiring Person or which would cause the occurrence of a Triggering
Event. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the
Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder
has expired. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash,
shares of Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price, as defined in Section
11(d) hereof, of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form
of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the
redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the
Rights Agent and without any further action and without any notice, the right to
exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders
of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held.
Promptly after the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights,
the Company shall give prior notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and
the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such
holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon the registry books of
the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of
the transfer agent for Common Stock. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the
payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
(c) (i) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an
exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be
empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company
or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Stock for or pursuant to
the terms
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<PAGE> 33
of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person,
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Stock then
outstanding.
(ii) Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering the exchange
of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 23 and without any
further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall
terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to
receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights
held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to
give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such
exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all
of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the
notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange
of the Common Stock for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held
by each holder of Rights.
(iii) In any exchange pursuant to this Section 23(c), the Company,
at its option, may substitute equivalent common stock (as such term is defined
in paragraph (b) of Section 11 hereof) for Common Stock exchangeable for rights,
at the initial rate of one share of equivalent common stock for each share of
Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting
rights of the Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, so that the fraction of a share of equivalent common stock
delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting
rights as one share of Common Stock.
(iv) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Stock
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of
Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 23(c), the Company shall
take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Stock
for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.
(v) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock, there
shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to
which such fractions shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable, an
amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole
share of Common Stock. For the purposes of this paragraph (v) of Section 23(c),
the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock shall be the closing
price of a share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to the second sentence
Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of
exchange pursuant to this Section 23(c).
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24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Common Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Common Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Common
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Stock (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of
Common Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with any
other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which
complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or
to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer),
in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the
assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as
a whole) to any, other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of
its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies, with
Section 11(o) hereof), or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each
holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with
Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or
warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock, if
any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of
any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior
to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as
practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the
extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the
occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of
the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, and (ii) all
references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed
thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.
25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be
given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to
or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by telecopier
(with receipt confirmed) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed
(until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
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<PAGE> 35
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
126 North Norton Avenue
Sylacauga, Alabama 35150
Attention: Donald C. Stroup
Telephone: (800) 239-1492
Telecopier: (205) 245-6341
Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by telecopier (with receipt confirmed) or by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company)
as follows:
Registrar and Transfer Company
10 Commerce Drive
Crawford, New Jersey 02016
Attention: John H. Gaffney
Telephone: (908) 497-2300 Ext. 2993
Telecopier: (908) 497-2310
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
26. Supplements and Amendments. Prior to the Distribution Date, the
Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or
amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock. From and after the
Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so
directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders
of Rights Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent
with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period
hereunder (which lengthening or shortening, following the first occurrence of an
event set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the first proviso to Section 23(a)
hereof, shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors and shall
require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors), or (iv) to
change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company
may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement
may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, to pursuant to clause (iii) of
this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at
such time as the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period
unless such lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or
clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon
the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer
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<PAGE> 36
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. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of
the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the
holders of Common Stock.
27. 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.
28. Determinations and Actions by the Board, Etc. For all purposes of
this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the
particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any
Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last
sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Exchange Act. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to
administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically
granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may necessary or advisable in the
administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and
power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this
Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to
amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and
determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with
respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith,
shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the
holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to
any liability to the holders of the Rights.
29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date,
registered holders of the Common Stock).
30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided,
however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any
such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith
judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely
affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set
forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the
close of business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by
the Board. Without limiting the foregoing, if any provision requiring the
approval of a majority of a group of directors, which group constitutes less
than the entire Board, is held by any court of competent jurisdiction or other
authority to be invalid,
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<PAGE> 37
void or unenforceable, such determination shall then be made by the Board in
accordance with applicable law and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws.
31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights
Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State.
32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several Sections
of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or
affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
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<PAGE> 38
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Joe K. McArthur By: /s/ Donald C. Stroup
----------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: Joe K. McArthur Name: Donald C. Stroup
Title: EVP, CFO, Secretary/Treas. Title: President/CEO
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY
ATTEST:
By: /s/ William P. Tatler By: /s/ John H. Gaffney
------------------------------- ---------------------------
Name: William P. Tatler Name: John H. Gaffney
Title: Vice President and Title: Vice President
Assistant Secretary
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<PAGE> 39
Exhibit A
{Form of Rights Certificate}
Certificate No. R- ____________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 30, 2007 OR UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES EARLIER.
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.01 PER
RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS
DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY
BECOME NULL AND VOID. {THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE OR
WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN
AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT). ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN
SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.}1
Rights Certificate
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
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 December 8, 1997 (the "Rights Agreement"), between SouthFirst Bancshares,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Registrar and Transfer Company
(the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to 5:00
P.M. (Birmingham, Alabama time) on November 19, 2007 at the office or offices of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent,
one-hundredth of a share of fully paid, nonassessable share of Common Stock par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of
$60.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this
Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate
duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and
the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth
above, and the Purchase Price per share set forth above, are the number and
Purchase Price as of December 8, 1997.
- --------
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.
Exhibit A - 1
<PAGE> 40
The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a
Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that a number
of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Common Stock will be issued.
Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (as such term is
defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or
Affiliate, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement, a transferee of a person who, after such transfer, became an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, such
Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with
respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii)
Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number
and kind of shares of Common Stock or other securities, which may be purchased
upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject
to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including
Triggering Events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which
limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of
such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement.
Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the
Rights Agent and are a so available upon written request to the Company.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates,
upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated
for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to
purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as the Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall
have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption
price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of the close of
business on (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date (as such time
period may be extended pursuant to the Rights Agreement), and (ii) the Final
Expiration Date. In addition, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part,
for shares of the Common Stock, or shares of equivalent common stock of the
Company having essentially the same value or economic rights as such shares.
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing
any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the
Exhibit A - 2
<PAGE> 41
Rights (other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate
and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such
exchange.
No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon the exercise
of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one share of Common Stock, which may, at the election of the
Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash
payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common
Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company
and its corporate seal. Dated as of December 8, 1997.
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
ATTEST:
By: By:
---------------------------- ----------------------------------
Name: Name:
Title: Title:
Countersigned:
Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent
By:
-----------------------------------
Authorized Signature
Exhibit A - 3
<PAGE> 42
{Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate}
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if
such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _______________________________________________hereby sells,
assigns and transfer unto_____________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ____________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the
within-named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: ,
------------ -- ----- -------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) this Rights Certificate is [ ] is not [ ] being sold, assigned and
transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person, or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, did
[ ] did not [ ] acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ,
------------ -- ----- -------------------------------------
Signature
Exhibit A - 4
<PAGE> 43
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit A - 5
<PAGE> 44
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights represented by
the Rights Certificate.)
To: SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the
Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the
Rights) and requests that certificates or such shares be issued in the name of
an delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print name and address)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: ,
--------------- -- ----- ------------------------------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
Exhibit A - 6
<PAGE> 45
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes
that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are [ ] are not [ ]
being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined
pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
undersigned did [ ] did not [ ] acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person, or an
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ,
--------------- -- ----- ------------------------------------
Signature
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit A - 7
<PAGE> 46
EXHIBIT B
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON SHARES
On November 19, 1997, the Board of Directors of SouthFirst Bancshares,
Inc. (the "Company") declared a dividend of one common stock purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on December 8,
1997 (the "Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one-hundredth
(1/100th) of a Common Share of the Company at a price of $60.00 per share (the
"Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and Registrar and Transfer Company, as Rights Agent (the "Rights
Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 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 of, 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 outstanding Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates 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 with a copy
of this Summary of Rights attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption 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 Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights
being attached thereto, 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 ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the
Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such
separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on November 30, 2007, (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
<PAGE> 47
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common 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 Common
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Shares of certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares at a price, or securities
convertible into Common Shares with a conversion price, less than the
then-current market price of the Common Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or
dividends payable in Common Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above).
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price
of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company
which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the
exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or group of affiliated
or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be
made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the
Acquiring Person (which 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 exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per
Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Common Shares will be issued and in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Common Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors of
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01
per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the Rights may be made
effective at such time on such basis 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.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the
Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and
after such time as any person or group
2
<PAGE> 48
of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the
Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
3
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 20.1
[SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. Letterhead]
December 17, 1997
To Our Stockholders:
On November 19, 1997, your Board of Directors declared a dividend
distribution of Common Stock Purchase Rights. This letter describes the Stock
Purchase Rights Plan and the Board's reasons for adopting it.
These Rights contain provisions to protect stockholders in the event of
an unsolicited attempt to acquire the Company, including a gradual accumulation
of shares in the open market, a partial or two-tier tender offer that does not
treat all stockholders equally, a squeeze-out merger and other abusive takeover
tactics which the Board believes are not in the best interests of stockholders.
These tactics unfairly pressure stockholders, squeeze them out of their
investment without giving them any real choice and deprive them of the full
value of their shares.
Over 1,700 companies, including approximately half of the Business Week
1000 companies and Fortune 500 companies and approximately two-thirds of the
Fortune 200 companies have issued rights to protect their stockholders against
these tactics. We consider the rights to be the best available means of
protecting both your right to retain your equity investment in SouthFirst
Bancshares, Inc. and the full value of that investment, while not foreclosing a
fair acquisition bid for the Company.
The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and
will not do so. However, they should deter any attempt to acquire the Company in
a manner or on terms not approved by the Board. The Rights approved today are
designed to deal with the very serious problem of another person or company
using abusive tactics to deprive SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.'s Board and its
stockholders of any real opportunity to determine the destiny of the Company.
The Rights may be redeemed by the Board of Directors for one cent per
Right prior to the accumulation, through open-market purchases, a tender offer
or otherwise, of 15% or more of the Company's shares by a single acquiror or
group. Thus, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business
combination approved by the Board of Directors prior to that time.
Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial
strength of the Company or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of
the Rights has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share,
is not taxable to the Company or to you, and will not change the way in which
you can presently trade the Company's shares. As explained in detail below, the
Rights will only be exercisable if and when the problem arises which they were
created to deal with. They
1
<PAGE> 2
will then operate to protect you against being deprived of your right to share
in the full measure of your Company's long-term potential.
Your Board was aware when it acted that some people have advanced
arguments that securities of the sort we are issuing deter legitimate
acquisition proposals. We carefully considered these views and concluded that
the arguments are speculative and do not justify leaving stockholders without
any protection against unfair treatment by an acquiror -- who, after all, is
seeking his own company's advantage, not yours. Your Board believes that these
Rights represent a sound and reasonable means of addressing the complex issues
of corporate policy created by the current takeover environment.
The Rights were issued as of December 8, 1997, to stockholders of
record on that date and will expire ten years from the date of adoption,
November 30, 2007. Initially, the Rights will not be exercisable, certificates
will not be sent to you, and the Rights will automatically trade with the common
shares. However, ten days after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the
Company's shares, or ten business days (or such later date as may be determined
by the Board prior to a person or group acquiring 15% or more of the Company's
shares) after a person or group announces an offer the consummation of which
would result in such person or group owning 15% or more of the shares (even if
no purchases actually occur), the Rights will become exercisable and separate
certificates representing the Rights will be distributed. We expect that the
Rights will begin to trade independently from the Company's shares at that time.
At no time will the Rights have any voting power.
When the Rights first become exercisable, unless a person or group has
acquired 50% or more of the Company's shares, a holder will be entitled to buy
from the Company one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share of common stock at a
purchase price of $60.00 per share. If the Company is involved in a merger or
other business combination at any time after a person or group has acquired 15%
or more of the Company's shares, the Rights will entitle a holder to buy a
number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a market value
of twice the exercise price of each Right. For example, if at the time of the
business combination the acquiring company's stock has a per share value of
$30.00, the holder of each Right would be entitled to receive 4 shares of the
acquiring company's common stock for $60.00, i.e., at a 50% discount.
If any person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's
outstanding common stock, the "flip-in" provision of the Rights will be
triggered and the Rights will entitle a holder (other than such person or any
member of such group) to buy a number of additional shares of common stock of
the Company having a market value of twice the exercise price of each Right.
Thus, if at the time of the 15% acquisition the Company's stock were to have a
market value per share equal to $30.00, the holder of each Right (other than
such person or any member of such group) would be entitled to receive 4 shares
of the Company's common stock for $60.00.
Following the acquisition by any person or group of 15% or more of the
Company's common stock, but only prior to the acquisition by a person or group
of a 50% stake, the Board
2
<PAGE> 3
in whole or in part, for one share of common stock per Right. This provision
will have an economically dilutive effect on the acquiror, and provide a
corresponding benefit to the remaining Rights holders, that is comparable to the
flip-in without requiring Rights holders to go through the process and expense
of exercising their Rights.
While, as noted above, the distribution of the Rights will not be
taxable to you or the Company, stockholders may recognize taxable income upon
the occurrence of certain subsequent events.
In declaring the Rights dividend, we have expressed our confidence in
the future and our determination that you, our stockholders, be given every
opportunity to participate fully in that future. A more detailed summary of the
Shareholders Rights Plan accompanies this letter.
On behalf of the Board of Directors.
/s/ Donald C. Stroup
-------------------------------------
Donald C. Stroup
President and Chief Executive Officer
3
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.1
Wednesday November 19, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOUTHFIRST BANCSHARES INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION OF COMMON STOCK
PURCHASE RIGHTS
SYLACAUGA, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 1997--Today, the board of Directors
of SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. (AMEX:SZB - news) declared a dividend
distribution of one Common Stock Purchase Right on each outstanding share of the
Company's common stock.
Donald C. Stroup, President and Chief Executive Officer of SouthFirst
Bancshares, Inc. sated: "The Board of Directors determined that the Common Stock
Purchase Rights Plan is an effective and reasonable method to safeguard the
interests of our shareholders. We are particularly concerned that the future
benefits of our current business plan could be denied to shareholders by an
opportunistic, undervalued acquisition oft he Company. The plan is designed to
assure that shareholders are not deprived of their rights to share in the full
measure of the Company's long-term potential, while not preventing a fully
valued bid for the Company."
The Common Stock Purchase Rights Plan provides for a dividend distribution of
one Common Stock Purchase Right for each outstanding share of SouthFirst
Bancshares, Inc. common stock. The dividend distribution will be made to
shareholders of record on December 8, 1997. Each shareholder is automatically
entitled to the Rights and no physical distribution of new certificates will be
made at this time. The Rights distribution is not taxable to shareholders.
The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 15% or more of
SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc.'s common stock or announces a tender offer which
would result in ownership of 15% or more of the common stock. The Rights entitle
the holder to purchase one-hundredth of a share of common stock at an exercise
price of $60.00 per share, and will expire on November 30, 2007.
Following the acquisition of 15% or more of the Company's common stock by a
person or group, the holders of the Rights will be entitled to purchase
additional share of Company common stock at one-half the then current market
price, and, in the event of a subsequent merger or other acquisition of the
Company, to buy shares of common stock of the acquiring entity at one-half of
the market price of those shares. In neither event, however, would the acquiring
person be entitled to purchase SouthFirst Bancshares, Inc. stock or its own
shares at the reduced price.
The Company will be able to redeem the Rights for $0.01 per Right at any time
prior to ten days after a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's
shares.
A letter outlining the Common Stock Purchase Rights Plan is more detail in being
sent to the Company's shareholders.
4
