SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Talk.com Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 23-2827736
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(State of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
12020 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 22091
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the If this form relates to the
registration of a class of securities registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective Exchange Act and is effective
pursuant to General Instruction pursuant to General Instruction
A.(c), please check the following A.(d), please check the following
box.[ ] box.[X]
Securities Act registration statement file number
to which this form relates:__________________
(If applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which
to be so registered each class is to be registered
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Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Share Purchase Rights
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(Title of Class)
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Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities To Be Registered
On August 19, 1999, the Board of Directors of Talk.com Inc. (the
"Company") announced that its Board of Directors had adopted a Stockholder
Rights Plan and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close
of business on August 30, 1999. One Right will also be distributed for each
share of Common Stock issued after August 30, 1999, until the Distribution Date
(which is described in the next paragraph). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one three-hundredth of
a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $55 per Unit, subject to adjustment.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement
dated as of August 19, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
First City Transfer Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock
and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), (ii) 10 business days following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would if consummated
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations (or, if later, the date
of receipt of any required regulatory approvals or approvals of the stockholders
of such person or group for such tender or exchange offer), or (iii) 10 business
days after the Board of Directors of the Company shall declare any Person to be
an "Adverse Person," upon a determination that such person, alone or together
with its affiliates and associates, has or will become the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (provided that any such
determination shall not be effective until such Person has become the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), including
consultation with such persons as such directors shall deem appropriate, that
(a) such beneficial ownership by such person is intended to cause, is reasonably
likely to cause or would cause the Company to change its strategic direction
under circumstances where the Board of Directors believes that such change is
not in the best interest of the Company and its Stockholders, employees,
customers, suppliers or other constituencies of the Company and its
subsidiaries, or (b) such beneficial ownership by such person is intended to
cause, is reasonably likely to cause or will cause pressure on the Company to
take action or enter into a transaction or series of transactions including by
causing a transaction with such person or other person, intended to provide such
person with short-term financial gain under circumstances where the Board of
Directors determines that the best long-term interests of the Company and its
stockholders would not be served by taking such action or entering into such
transactions or series of transactions at that time or (c) such beneficial
ownership is causing or is reasonably likely to cause a material adverse impact
(including, but not limited to, impairment of relationships with customers or
impairment of the Company's ability to
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maintain its competitive position) on the business or prospects of the Company
or (d) such beneficial ownership otherwise is determined to be not in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders, employees, customers, suppliers,
or other constituencies of the Company or its subsidiaries.
However, the Board of Directors may not declare a person to be an
Adverse Person if, prior to the time that the person acquired 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, such person provided to the Board of
Directors in writing a statement of the person's purpose and intentions in
connection with the proposed acquisition of Common Stock, together with any
other information reasonably requested of the person by the Board of Directors,
and the Board of Directors, based on such statement and reasonable inquiry and
investigation as it deems appropriate, determines to notify and notifies such
person in writing that it will not declare the person to be an Adverse Person;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may expressly condition in any
manner a determination not to declare a person an Adverse Person on such
conditions as the Board of Directors may select, including, without limitation,
such person's not acquiring more than a specified amount of stock and/or on such
person's not taking actions inconsistent with the purposes and intentions
disclosed by such person in the statement provided to the Board of Directors. In
the event that the Board of Directors should at any time determine, upon
reasonable inquiry and investigation, that such person has not met or complied
with any conditions specified by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors
may at any time thereafter declare the person to be an Adverse Person.
Until the Distribution Date (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after August 30,
1999 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on August 19, 2009, subject to extension by the
Board of Directors, or unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described
below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except for certain issuances in
connection with outstanding options and convertible securities and as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior
to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that the Board of Directors determines that a person
is an Adverse Person or, at any time following the Distribution Date, a person
becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of
Common Stock, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive
at the time specified in the Rights Agreement, (x) upon exercise and payment of
the exercise price, Common Stock (or, in
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certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right or (y) at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, upon exercise and without payment of the
exercise price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or
other securities of the Company) having a value equal to the difference between
the exercise price of the Right and the value of the consideration which would
be payable under clause (x). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the
occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that
are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or Adverse Person will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of either of
the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $20 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or by certain related
parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $40 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $20. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$10 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase
four shares of Common Stock for $20. Alternatively, at the discretion of the
Board of Directors, each Right following an event set forth in the preceding
paragraph, without payment of the exercise price, would entitle its holder to
Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) worth $20.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other
business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving
corporation, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is
sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have
been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two
times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph
and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering
Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or
warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional
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Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made
based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior
to the date of exercise.
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as
and if declared by the Board of Directors, a minimum preferential quarterly
dividend payment of $10 per share or, if greater, an aggregate dividend of 300
times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment of $300 per share and will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 300 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each
share of Preferred Stock will have 300 votes, voting together with the Common
Stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Stock is changed or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 300 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions. Because of the
nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the
value of one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common
Stock.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.001 per Right, at any time until 10 business days
following the Stock Acquisition Date. Moreover, redemption would not be
permitted after 10 business days following the effective date of any declaration
by the Board of Directors that any person is an Adverse Person. After the
redemption period has expired, the Company's right of redemption may be
reinstated if an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person reduces his beneficial
ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a
transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company and there are no
other Acquiring Persons or Adverse Persons. Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001
redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will
not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending
upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights
become exercisable for stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
Other than certain provisions relating to the principal economic
terms of the Rights under certain specified circumstances, any of the provisions
of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of
the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity,
to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person or Adverse Person), or to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the
<PAGE>
Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period
governing redemption shall be made when the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A
dated August 27, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of
charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits
1. Rights Agreement dated as of August 19, 1999 between Talk.com
Inc. and First City Transfer Company, as Rights Agent, which includes, as
Exhibit A, the Form of Certificate of Designation, Exhibit B, the Form of Rights
Certificate and Exhibit C, the Form of Summary of Rights. Pursuant to the Rights
Agreement, Rights Certificates will not be mailed until as soon as practicable
after the earliest of the tenth business day after (i) any person acquires 20%
or more of Talk.com Common Stock, (ii) any person commences a tender or exchange
offer (and required regulatory and shareholder approvals have been obtained)
such that the person would own 20% or more of Talk.com Common Stock, or (iii)
the effective date of a declaration by the Board of Directors that a 15% or more
stockholder is an Adverse Person.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
TALK.COM INC.
Date: August 27, 1999 By: /s/ Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
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Name: Aloyisus T. Lawn, IV
Title: Secretary and General Counsel
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Exhibit 1
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TALK.COM INC.
and
FIRST CITY TRANSFER COMPANY
Rights Agent
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Rights Agreement
Dated as of August 19,1999
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<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section Page
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<S> <C> <C>
1. Certain Definitions....................................................... 1
2. Appointment of Rights Agent............................................... 5
3. Issue of Rights Certificates.............................................. 5
4. Form of Rights Certificates............................................... 8
5. Countersignature and Registration......................................... 9
6. Transfer, Splitup, Combination and
Exchange of Rights Certificates;
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Rights Certificates.............................................. 9
7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase
Price; Expiration Date of Rights........................................ 10
8. Cancellation and Destruction of
Rights Certificates..................................................... 13
9. Reservation and Availability of
Capital Stock........................................................... 13
10. Preferred Stock Record Date............................................... 15
11. Adjustment of Purchase Price,
Number and Kind of Shares or
Number of Rights........................................................ 15
12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase
Price or Number of Shares............................................... 26
13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale
or Transfer of Assets or Earning
Power................................................................... 26
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
14. Fractional Rights and Fractional
Shares.................................................................. 29
15. Rights of Action.......................................................... 30
16. Agreement of Rights Holders............................................... 30
17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed
a Stockholder........................................................... 31
18. Concerning the Rights Agent............................................... 32
19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of
Name of Rights Agent.................................................... 32
20. Duties of Rights Agent.................................................... 33
21. Change of Rights Agent.................................................... 35
22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates....................................... 36
23. Redemption and Termination................................................ 37
24. Notice of Certain Events.................................................. 38
25. Notices................................................................... 39
26. Supplements and Amendments................................................ 40
27. Successors................................................................ 40
28. Determinations and Actions by
the Board of Directors, etc............................................. 40
29. Benefits of This Agreement................................................ 41
30. Severability.............................................................. 41
31. Governing Law............................................................. 42
32. Counterparts.............................................................. 42
33. Descriptive Headings...................................................... 42
</TABLE>
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Exhibit A --Form of Certificate of Designation
Exhibit B --Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C --Form of Summary of Rights
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<PAGE>
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 19, 1999 (the "Agreement"),
between TALK.COM INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and FIRST CITY
TRANSFER COMPANY (the "Rights Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on August 19, 1999 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration
Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend
distribution ("Distribution") of one Right for each share of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the close of business on
August 30, 1999 (the "Record Date"), and has further authorized the issuance of
one Right (as such number may hereinafter be adjusted pursuant to the provisions
of Section 11(o) hereof) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued
between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the
Company's treasury) and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration
Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), each Right initially representing
the right to purchase one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (as
hereinafter defined) upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth (the "Rights");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding,
but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person
organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan.
(b) "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(c) "Adverse Person" shall mean any Person declared to be an
Adverse Person by the Board of Directors upon determination that the criteria
set forth in Section 11(a)(ii)(B) apply to such Person.
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(d) "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 (the "Exchange
Act") and in effect on the date of this Agreement.
(e) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and
shall be deemed to "beneficially own," any securities:
(i) that 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
"Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof in
connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original
Rights;
(ii) that 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 as in effect on the date of this Agreement),
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
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Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor
report); or
(iii) that 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 (e)) or disposing of
any voting securities of the Company; provided, however, that
nothing in this paragraph (e) 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.
(f) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(g) "Close of business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
P.M., Reston, Virginia time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date
is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Reston, Virginia time, on the
next succeeding Business Day.
(h) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $0.01 par
value, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to
any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person
with the greatest aggregate voting power, or the equity securities or other
equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such
Person.
(i) "Common stock equivalents" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(j) "Current market price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(k) "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(l) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
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(m) "Exchange Act" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 1(d) hereof.
(n) "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 7(a) hereof.
(o) "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the close of business
on August 19, 2009, unless extended by the Board of Directors of the Company as
provided in Section 7 hereof.
(p) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership, company or other entity.
(q) "Preferred Stock" shall mean the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company having
the rights and preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Designation
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, and, to the extent that there is not a
sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full
exercise of the Rights, any other series of such Preferred Stock of the Company
designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms
of the Series A Preferred Stock.
(r) "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 13(b) hereof.
(s) "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) hereof.
(t) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
WHEREAS clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(u) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.
(v) "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the WHEREAS
clause at the beginning of this Agreement.
(w) "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a) hereof.
(x) "Section 11(a)(ii) Event" shall mean any event described
in Section 11(a)(ii)(A) or (B) hereof.
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(y) "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(z) "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in
clause (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.
(aa) "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(a)(iii) hereof.
(bb) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of a
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.
(cc) "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person,
any corporation, partnership, company or other entity of which an amount of
voting securities sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors,
managers, trustees or similar persons, of such entity is beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(dd) "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(ee) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 11(d)(i) hereof.
(ff) "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(a)(ii)
Event or any Section 13 Event.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints
the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights
(who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date
also be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The
Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem
necessary or desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the earliest of (i) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date, (ii) the close of business
on the tenth Business Day after the latest of (A) the date that a tender or
exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the
Company, any
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<PAGE>
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
Person organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the
terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning
of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as
in effect on the date hereof, if, upon consummation thereof, such Person would
be the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, and (B) the date upon which all regulatory approvals required for
the acquisition of stock pursuant to the tender or exchange offer referred to in
clause (A) have been obtained or waived, and (C) the date upon which any
approval required of the security holders of the Person publishing or sending or
giving the tender or exchange offer referred to in clause (A), for the
acquisition of stock pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, is obtained or
waived and (iii) the close of business on the tenth Business Day after the Board
of Directors of the Company determines, pursuant to the criteria set forth in
Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof, that a Person is an Adverse Person (the earliest of
(i), (ii) and (iii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x)
the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this
Section 3) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of
the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be
deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and
(y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the
underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company). As soon
as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by
first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common
Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of
such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights,
certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit 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(o) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, the Company
shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance
with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole
numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional
Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced
solely by such Rights Certificates.
(b) As promptly as practicable following the Record Date,
the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock,
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, by first-class, postage
prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records
of the Company. With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as
of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by
such certificates
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for the Common Stock and the registered holders of the Common Stock shall also
be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the
Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates
representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued
shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of
Common Stock.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all shares of
Common Stock which are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of
the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such
shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and
certificates issued after the Record Date 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 TALK.COM INC. (the "Company") and FIRST CITY TRANSFER
COMPANY (the "Rights Agent") dated as of August 19, 1999 (the
"Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth
in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate
certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.
The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of
the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without
charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under
certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights
issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an
Acquiring Person, an Adverse 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.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the
earlier of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be
evidenced by such Certificates alone and registered holders of Common Stock
shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and the transfer
of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates.
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Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates.
(a) The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to
purchase shares 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 may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights
may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the
provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates,
whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face
shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one
three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at
the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one three-hundredths of a
share, the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable
upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject
to adjustment as provided herein.
(b) Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a)
or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by any Person
known to be: (i) an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or any Associate or
Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person; (ii) a transferee of an
Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate)
who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becomes
such; or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or of
any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or
concurrently with the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or from any such
Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person
or Adverse Person (or in any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with
whom such Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or any such Associate or
Affiliate) has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding
the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the
Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has
as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of 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 when issued contain (to the extent feasible in the
circumstances) the following legend, modified as applicable to apply to such
Person:
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The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were
beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an [Acquiring]
[Adverse] Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an [Acquiring]
[Adverse] Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights
Agreement). Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights
represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances
specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of
the Company by its Chairman of the Board, 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 countersigned by the Rights Agent,
manually or by facsimile signature, 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, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such
Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights
Agreement any such person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated as the appropriate place for
surrender of Rights Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for
registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such
books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights
Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights
Certificates and the certificate number and the date of each of the Rights
Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Splitup, 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
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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 three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
(or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other
assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates
surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a
transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up,
combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such
request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights
Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the
Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever
with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until
the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained
in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and
shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the
Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to
Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14 hereof, countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer, splitup, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of
evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction,
of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to
the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto,
and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights
Certificate if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights
Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery
to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of
any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as
otherwise provided herein including, without limitation, the restrictions on
exercisability set forth in Section 9(c), Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 23(a)
hereof) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon
surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and
the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent
at the office of the Rights Agent designated for
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such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect
to the total number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such
surrendered Rights are then exercisable, at or prior to the earlier of (i) 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 three-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $55
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 three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or
other shares, securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be
purchased as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof thereupon promptly
(i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or
make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares)
certificates for the total number of one three-hundredths of a share of
Preferred 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 elected to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from
the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which
case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts
shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the
Company 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) may be
made in cash or by certified bank check or money order payable to the order of
the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other
securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute
other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all
arrangements necessary so that such other
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securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by or on
behalf of the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of, the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names
as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14
hereof.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any
Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or an
Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person, (ii) a
transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or of any such Associate
or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or an Adverse
Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to
or concurrently with the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person becoming such and
receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for
consideration) from the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or from any such
Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person
or Adverse Person (or in any such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with
whom the Acquiring Person or Adverse Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate)
has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the
transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company
has determined (whether before or after such transfer) 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 other Person as
a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring
Person or Adverse Person or any of their respective Affiliates, Associates or
transferees hereunder.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to
undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of
any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 unless such registered
holder shall have (i) completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate
surrendered for such exercise,
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and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial
Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the
Company shall reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All
Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, splitup,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights
Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and
retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company
otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all
cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request
of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case
shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to
be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its
authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities or out of
its authorized and issued shares held in its treasury), the number of shares of
Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common
Stock and/or other securities) that, as provided in this Agreement, including
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of
all outstanding Rights.
(b) So long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following
the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities)
issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any
national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause,
from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved
for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance
upon such exercise.
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as
soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a
Section 11(a)(ii) Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the
Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with
Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the
Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Act,
with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an
appropriate form, (ii)
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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. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any
jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have
been obtained and until a registration statement has been declared effective.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all
such action as may be necessary to ensure that all one three-hundredths of a
share of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event,
Common Stock and/or other securities) delivered upon exercise of Rights shall,
at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to payment
of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid
and nonassessable.
(e) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will
pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and
charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the
Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one three-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the
case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be
required 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 one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name
other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing
Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a
number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the
registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been
paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the
time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's
satisfaction that no such tax is due.
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Section 10. Preferred Stock Record Date. Each person in whose name
any certificate for a number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) is issued
upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the
holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
and/or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate
evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price
(and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the
Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder
of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be
dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock (or Common
Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company
are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a
Rights Certificate, as such, shall not be entitled to any rights of a
stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be
exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive
dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall
not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except
as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares
or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of shares covered
by each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment
from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in
shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D)
issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred
Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation,
statutory share exchange or merger in which the Company is the continuing or
surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and
Section 7(e) hereof, the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date
for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or
capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in
effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital
stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately
prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock transfer books of the
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Company were open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to
receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or
reclassification. If an event occurs 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:
(A) any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person organized, appointed or
established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such
plan), alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall,
at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, unless the event causing the 20% threshold to be
crossed is a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) hereof or
(B) subject to the requirements of this Section 11(a)(ii),
(x) the Board of Directors of the Company shall declare any Person
to be an Adverse Person, upon a determination by the Board of
Directors that such Person, alone or together with its Affiliates
and Associates, has or is likely to, at any time after the Rights
Dividend Declaration Date, become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, after reasonable
inquiry and investigation, including consultation with such persons
as such directors shall deem appropriate, that (a) such Beneficial
Ownership by such Person is intended to cause, is reasonably likely
to cause or would cause directly or indirectly, the Company to
change its strategic direction under circumstances where the Board
of Directors believes that such change is not in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, employees, customers,
suppliers or other constituencies of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, (b) such Beneficial Ownership by such Person is
intended to cause, is reasonably likely to cause or would cause
pressure on the Company to take action or enter into a transaction
or series of transactions, including by causing a transaction with
such Person or another Person which would provide such Person with
short-term financial gain under circumstances where the Board of
Directors determines that the best long-term interests of the
Company and its stockholders, but for the actions and possible
actions of such Person, would not be served by taking such action
or entering into such transactions or series of transactions at
that time or (c) such Beneficial Ownership is causing or reasonably
likely to cause a material
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adverse impact (including, but not limited to, impairment of
relationships with customers or impairment of the Company's ability
to maintain its competitive position) on the business or prospects
of the Company, or (d) such Beneficial Ownership otherwise is
determined to be not in the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders, employees, customers, suppliers, or other
constituents of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (y) such
Person has become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock,
then, promptly following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) 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 three-hunredths of
a share of Preferred Stock, 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 three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
for which a Right would have been exercisable immediately prior to the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event assuming the Distribution Date had
already occurred, 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").
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)(B) hereof, the Board of
Directors of the Company may not declare a Person to be an Adverse Person if,
prior to the time that such Person acquired 15% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding, such Person provided to the Board of Directors in
writing a statement of such Person's purpose and intentions in connection with
the proposed acquisition of Common Stock, together with any other information
reasonably requested of such Person by the Board of Directors, and the Board of
Directors, based on such statement and reasonable inquiry and investigation,
including consultation with such Persons as such directors shall deem
appropriate, determines to notify and notifies such Person in writing that it
will not declare such Person to be an Adverse Person; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may expressly condition in any manner a determination not
to declare a Person an Adverse Person on such conditions as the Board of
Directors may select, including, without limitation, such Person's not acquiring
more than a specified amount of Common Stock and/or on such Person's not taking
actions inconsistent with the purposes and intentions disclosed by such Person
in the statement provided to the Board of Directors. In the event that the Board
of Directors should at any time determine, upon reasonable inquiry and
investigation, including consultation with such Persons as such directors shall
deem appropriate, that such Person has not met or complied with any
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condition specified by the Board of Directors pursuant to the preceding
sentence, the Board of Directors may at any time thereafter declare such Person
to be an Adverse Person pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii).
(iii) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which
are authorized by the Company's Restated Charter but not outstanding or reserved
for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not
sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the
foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A)
determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the
exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such
excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate
provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon the exercise of a Right
and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the
Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company
(including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock
which the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to have substantially the
same value as shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock, "common
stock equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or
(6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the
Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where
such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company based upon the advice of one or more investment or financial advisors
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the
Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to
clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first
occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company's
right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y)
being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the
Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a
Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common
Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares
and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that
sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance
upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) day period set forth above
may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days
after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek
stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such
period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that
the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first
and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall
provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly
to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights
until the expiration of the Substitution
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Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide
the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence
and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the
Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the
Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such
time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
11(a)(iii), the value of the Common Stock shall be the current market price (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Stock on
the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date and the value of any "common stock
equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such
date.
(iv) In lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in accordance with
subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company may with respect to each
Right, if a majority of members of the Board of Directors determine that such
action is in the best interests of the Company and not contrary to the interests
of the holders of Rights, make adequate provision to substitute for the
Adjustment Shares, (x) upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and payment of
the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in Purchase Price, (3)
Common Stock, or other equity securities of the Company (including without
limitation common stock equivalents), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5)
other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing having an aggregate value
equal to the Current Value where such aggregate value has been determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of one or more
investment or financial advisers selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company or (y) upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring
payment of the Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) Common Stock or other equity
securities of the Company (including, without limitation, common stock
equivalents), (3) debt securities of the Company, (4) other assets or (5) any
combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Spread
where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the
Company based upon the advice of one or more investment or financial advisors
selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock
entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within
forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) Preferred Stock (or shares
having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred
Stock ("equivalent preferred stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred
Stock or equivalent preferred stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or
per share of equivalent preferred stock (or having a conversion price per share,
if a security convertible into Preferred Stock or equivalent preferred stock)
less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to
be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
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multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred
Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of
Preferred Stock and/or equivalent preferred stock so to be offered (and/or the
aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be
offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such
record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or
equivalent preferred stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into
which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In
case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or
all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration
shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company,
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall
not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such
adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and
in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price
shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such
record date had not been fixed.
(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a
distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution
made in connection with a consolidation, statutory share exchange or merger in
which the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness,
cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in
Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than
Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to
in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record
date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately
prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share
of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of
the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be
distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of
Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price
(as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Preferred Stock.
Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is
fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would have been in effect
if such record date had not been fixed.
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(d)(i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other
than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 11(a)(iv)
hereof, the "current market price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall
be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Common
Stock for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter
defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made
pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) and Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, the "current market
price" per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average
of the daily closing prices per share of such Common Stock for the ten (10)
consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however,
that in the event that the current market price per share of the Common Stock is
determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such
Common Stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Common Stock payable in
shares of such Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of such Common
Stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or
reclassification of such Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of the
requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, as set forth
above, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the
record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in
each such case, the "current market price" shall be properly adjusted to take
into account ex-dividend trading. The closing price for each day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day,
the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the 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 any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so
quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or such other system then in use, or, if
on any such date the shares of Common Stock are not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the
Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making
a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of such shares on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company 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 any national securities exchange,
a Business Day. If the Common Stock is not
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publicly held or not so listed or traded, "current market price" per share shall
mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement
filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current market price" per share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in
the same manner as set forth above for the Common Stock in clause (i) of this
Section 11(d) (other than the last sentence thereof). If the current market
price per share of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided
above or if the Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a
manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the "current market price"
per share of Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal
to 300 (as such number may be appropriately adjusted for such events as stock
splits, stock dividends and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock
occurring after the date of this Agreement) multiplied by the current market
price per share of the Common Stock. If neither the Common Stock nor the
Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, "current market price"
per share of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose
determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and
shall be conclusive for all purposes. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
"current market price" of one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock
shall be equal to the "current market price" of one share of Preferred Stock
divided by 300.
(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 or one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock, as
the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such
adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(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
Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon
exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as
practicable to
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the provisions with respect to the Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a),
(b), (c), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (l), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9,
10, 13 and 14 hereof with respect to the Preferred Stock shall apply on like
terms to any such other shares.
(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 three-hundredths
of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon
exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest
one-millionth) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one
three-hundredths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by
the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any
adjustment in the number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred 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 tenthousandth) 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
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to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at
the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of
record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such
holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required
by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such
holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be
distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided
for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase
Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights
Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore
and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one
three-hundredths of a share and the number of one three-hundredths of a share
which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that
an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date
of the number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
over and above the number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock
and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such
exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment;
provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or
other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such
additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of
the event requiring such adjustment.
(l) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that in their good faith judgment the Board of
Directors of the Company shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i)
consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for
cash of any shares of Preferred Stock at less than the current market price,
(iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which
by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred
Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants
referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its
Preferred Stock shall not be taxable to such stockholders.
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(m) 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(n) hereof), (ii) merge with or into or enter into a statutory share
exchange with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a
transaction which complies with Section 11(n) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer
(or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series
of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of
the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its
Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section
11(n) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation,
merger, statutory share exchange, sale or transfer 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, sale or transfer, the stockholders 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.
(n) 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.
(o) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time on or after the
Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare
a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine
the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the
number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or
issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with
each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result
obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of
which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which
shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
following the occurrence of such event.
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(p) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value, if any, of the 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 shares of
Common Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.
Section 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 each transfer agent for the
Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail a
brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to
the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of
Common Stock) in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be
fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein
contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless
and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Statutory Share Exchange, 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, enter into a
statutory share exchange or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n)
hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of
such consolidation, statutory share exchange or merger, (y) any Person (other
than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section
11(n) hereof) shall consolidate with, enter into a statutory share exchange
with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the
continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, statutory share
exchange or merger and, in connection with such consolidation, statutory share
exchange 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 or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company
or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which
complies with Section 11(n) hereof), then, and in each
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such case, proper provision shall be made so that: (i) each holder of a Right,
except holders described 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, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common
Stock of the Principal Party (as such term is hereinafter defined), not subject
to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as
shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then-current
Purchase Price by the number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred
Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence
of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to
the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one
three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event 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)(i) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such
Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event; (ii) such
Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of
such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to
this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to
such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of
Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first
occurrence of a Section 13 Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such
steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of
shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such
transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall
thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its
shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights;
and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect
following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event.
(b) "Principal Party" shall mean
(i) in the case of any transaction described in
clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the
Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of
Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger, statutory
share exchange or consolidation, and if no securities are so
issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger,
statutory share exchange or consolidation; and
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(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,
statutory share exchange, merger, sale or transfer unless the Principal Party
shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which
have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of
the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the
Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights
Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as
practicable after the date of any consolidation, statutory share exchange,
merger, sale or transfer 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) 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,
statutory share exchanges 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
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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).
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(o)
hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.
In lieu of such fractional Rights, there may be paid to the registered holders
of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For purposes of this Section 14(a), the
current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional
Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price of the Rights for
any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or in case no such sale takes
place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the
New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading, on any national securities
exchange, the last quoted price or if not so quoted, the average of the high bid
and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by NASDAQ or
such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted
by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as
furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected
by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market
maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such
date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall
be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of
one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights
or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred
Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one three-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock
that are not integral multiples of one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred
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 three-hundredth of a share
of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this
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Section 14(b), the current market value of one three-hundredths of a share of
Preferred Stock shall be one three-hundredth of the closing price of a share of
Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the
Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the
Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional
shares of Common Stock. In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the
Company 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 (1) share of Common Stock. For
purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common
Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined
pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to
the date of such exercise.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of
this Agreement, other than rights of action vested in the Rights Agent pursuant
to Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the
Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders
of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or,
prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided
in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing
or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically
acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law
for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance
of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened
violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right by
accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and
with every other holder of a Right that:
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(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;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(f) hereof, the
Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a
Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the
Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone
other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the last sentence of
Section 7(e) hereof, shall be required to be affected by any notice to the
contrary; and
(d) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to
any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform
any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of
competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency
or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated
or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining
performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best
efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned
as soon as possible.
Section 17. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one
three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the
Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights
represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights
Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in Section 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such
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Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time,
on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and
disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and
execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to
hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for
anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance
and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no
liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in
connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights
Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons.
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights
Agent.
(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights
Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent
or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under
this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act
on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, however, that such
corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under
the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights
Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights
Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor
Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and
deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned;
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and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights
Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the
successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall
have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall
be changed and at such time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and
in this Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and
conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates,
by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or
matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person or
Adverse 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 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
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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 receipt of the certificate described in
Section 12 hereof setting forth any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act
hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the
authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to
be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether
any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute,
acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and
delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may
reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by
the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
the Chairman of the Board, the 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, 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) Any application by the Rights Agent for written
instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth
in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under
this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be
taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a
proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such
application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date
the Chairman of the
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Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant
Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company actually
receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in
writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the
effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received
written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be
taken or omitted.
(i) 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.
(j) 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.
(k) 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.
(l) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered
to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the
form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has
either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1
and/or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with
respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the
Company.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any
successor Rights Agent may resign and thereby be discharged from its duties
under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the
Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by
first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent or successor Rights Agent,
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as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred
Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights
Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed
or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a
successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a
Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate
for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights
Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation or financial institution
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the
States of New York, New Jersey or Virginia (or of any other state of the United
States so long as such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking
institution in the State of New York, New Jersey or Virginia), in good standing,
and having a principal office in the State of New York, New Jersey or Virginia,
which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock
transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authority and that has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined
capital and surplus of at least $[10,000,000] or (b) an affiliate of a
corporation or financial institution described in clause (a) of this sentence.
After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same
powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named
as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent
shall deliver, and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the
time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance,
conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later than the effective
date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing
with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock
and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered
holders of the Rights Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in
this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality
or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment
of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding
any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment
or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or
other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in
accordance with the 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
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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, 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
Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however,
that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that,
the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the
Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights
Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 23. Redemption and Termination.
(a)(i) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the earlier of (x) the close of business on the
tenth Business Day following the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the Stock
Acquisition Date shall have occurred prior to the Record Date, the close of
business on the tenth Business Day following the Record Date), or (y) the Final
Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at
a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately
adjusted, as determined by the Board of Directors, 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").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Section 23(a)(ii) hereof, the
Board of Directors of the Company may not redeem any Rights after the tenth
Business Day following the effective date of (a) any declaration that any Person
is or will become an Adverse Person (as provided in Section 11(a)(ii)(B)) and,
if later, (b) the date such Person has become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(ii) If, following the occurrence of a Stock
Acquisition Date and/or following the expiration of the right of redemption
hereunder but prior to any Triggering Event, (x) a Person who is an Acquiring
Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of shares of
Common Stock in one transaction or series of transactions, not directly or
indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which did not
result in the occurrence of a Triggering Event, such that such Person is
thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 10% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, and (y) there are no other Persons, immediately following the
occurrence of the event described in clause (x), who are Acquiring Persons or
Adverse Persons, then the right of redemption shall be reinstated and thereafter
be subject to the provisions of this Section 23.
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(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained in this
Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be
exercisable after the first occurrence of an event described in Section
11(a)(ii) until such time as the Company's right of redemption hereunder has
expired.
(iv) The Company may, at its option, pay the
Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on
the "current market price," as defined in Section 11(d)(i) hereof, of the Common
Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have
been filed with the Rights Agent and without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right
thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for
each Right so held. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors ordering
the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption
to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing
such notice to all such holders at each holder's last address as it appears upon
the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on
the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock. Any notice that
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the
method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the
Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the
holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of
Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or
retained earnings of the Company), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred
Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares
of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities,
rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred
Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any consolidation,
statutory share exchange or merger into or with any other Person (other than a
Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(n)
hereof), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of
its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or
Persons
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(other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more
transactions each of which complies with Section 11(n) 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, statutory share exchange, merger, sale,
transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date
of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any
such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any
action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) days prior to
the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for
purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least
twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the
date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock,
whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case 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.
Section 25. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if
delivered by hand, sent by overnight courier or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Rights Agent) as follows:
TALK.COM INC.
12020 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 22091
Attention: General Counsel
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
delivered by hand, sent by overnight courier or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
First City Transfer Company
505 Thornall Street
Suite 503
Edison, NJ 08837
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Attention: Tenders and Exchange Administration
Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the
Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if
prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing
shares of Common Stock) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of
such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.
Section 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, including the Final Expiration Date, (iv) to change or supplement the
provisions hereunder in any other 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, an Adverse Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of any such Person); provided, this Agreement may not be
supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence,
(A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as
the Rights are not then redeemable, or (B) any other time period unless such
lengthening of such other time period is for the purpose of protecting,
enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of
Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the
Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance
with the terms of this Section 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.
Section 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.
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Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors,
etc. (a) 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 13d3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof. The Board of
Directors of the Company (or, as set forth herein, certain specified members
thereof) shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this
Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the
Board of Directors of the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary or
advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this
Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for
the administration of this Agreement (including, but not limited to, a
determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights, to declare that a Person is an
Adverse Person or to amend this Agreement). All such actions, calculations,
interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below,
all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board
of Directors of the Company in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and
binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all
other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of
the Rights.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, any determination to be made by
the Board of Directors of the Company may be made by a duly constituted
committee thereof if so authorized to act by the Board of Directors pursuant to
the Company's Bylaws, and in such circumstances any reference to the Board of
Directors herein shall be deemed to include a reference to such committee.
Section 29. Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights
Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the
Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the
registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution
Date, registered holders of the Common Stock).
Section 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,
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<PAGE>
provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be
invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company
determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid 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 Business Day following
the date of such determination by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 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.
Section 32. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed
and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
Attest: TALK.COM INC.
By By /s/ Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
--------------------- ---------------------
Name: Name: Aloysius T. Lawn, IV
Title: Title: Secretary & General Counsel
Attest: FIRST CITY TRANSFER COMPANY
By By /s/ Monica Tobey
--------------------- ---------------------
Name: Name: Monica Tobey
Title: Title: Vice President
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<PAGE>
Exhibit A
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING
PREFERRED STOCK OF TALK.COM INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware
TALK.COM INC., a corporation organized and existing under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the provisions of
Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY.
That pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors in
accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the said
Corporation, the said Board of Directors on August 19, 1999 adopted the
following resolution creating a series of 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock
designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock":
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, a series of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the designation and
number of shares thereof and the voting and other powers, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other rights of the shares of such series
and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof are as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
1. Designation and Amount. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock
that shall be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" and
the number of shares constituting such series shall be 1,000,000. Such number of
shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock to less than the number of shares then
issued and outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding
securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distribution.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any
shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation ranking prior and
superior to the shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock with
respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of any class or series
of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in respect thereof, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of each fiscal
quarter of the Corporation in each year (each such date being referred to herein
as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share
of Series A Junior Participating
<PAGE>
Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to
the greater of (a) $10.00 or (b) the Adjustment Number (as defined below) times
the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and the Adjustment Number
times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends
or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock
or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification
or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Corporation (the "Common Stock") since the immediately preceding Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock. The "Adjustment Number" shall initially be
300. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after August 19, 1999 (the
"Rights Declaration Date") (i) declare and pay any dividend on Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock
or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares,
then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such
event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) above
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock
(other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares
is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in
which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue
of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly
dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which
events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the
time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a
share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of
Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a
dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
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<PAGE>
(A) Each share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
entitle the holder thereof to a number of votes equal to the Adjustment Number
on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.
(B) Except as required by law and by Section 10 hereof, holders of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are
entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking
any corporate action.
4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions
payable on the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends
and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or
redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any
shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in
arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such
shares are then entitled; or
(iii) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on
a parity with the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, or to such holders and holders of any such shares
ranking on a parity therewith, upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after
consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights
and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good
faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or
classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation
to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the
Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4,
purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their retirement become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
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<PAGE>
Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors, subject to any conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth
herein.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
voluntary or otherwise, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares
of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up) to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless,
prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall have received an amount per share (the "Series A Liquidation
Preference") equal to the greater of (i) $1,000 plus an amount equal to accrued
and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the
date of such payment, or (ii) the Adjustment Number times the per share amount
of all cash and other property to be distributed in respect of the Common Stock
upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets
available to permit payment in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and
the liquidation preferences of all other classes and series of stock of the
Corporation, if any, that rank on a parity with the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock in respect thereof, then the assets available for
such distribution shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of such parity shares in
proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) Neither the merger or consolidation of the Corporation into or with
another corporation nor the merger or consolidation of any other corporation
into or with the Corporation shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 6.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into
any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the
outstanding shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock
or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be
similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share equal to the Adjustment
Number times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each
share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
8. No Redemption. Shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock shall not be subject to redemption by the Company.
9. Ranking. The Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall
rank junior to all other series of the Preferred Stock as to the payment of
dividends and as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise, and
shall rank senior to the Common Stock as to such matters.
10. Amendment. At any time that any shares of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner that would
materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special
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<PAGE>
rights of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting
separately as a class.
11. Fractional Shares. Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in
proportion to such holder's fractional shares, to exercise voting rights,
receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all
other rights of holders of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate this
26 day of August, 1999.
TALK.COM INC.
By:
--------------------------
Name:
Title:
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[Form of Rights Certificate]
Certificate No. R- ____Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 19, 2009 OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED
BY THE COMPANY, UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE COMPANY. 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 OR AN ADVERSE PERSON (AS SUCH
TERMS ARE 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 [ADVERSE] PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF
AN ACQUIRING [ADVERSE] 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
TALK.COM 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 August 19, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
TALK.COM INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and FIRST CITY TRANSFER
- ------------------
(1) The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if
applicable, shall be modified to apply to an Acquiring Person or an Adverse
Person, as applicable, and shall replace the preceding sentence.
<PAGE>
COMPANY (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time prior to
5:00 P.M. (Reston, Virginia time) on August 19, 2009 at the office or offices of
the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent,
one three-hundredths of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Junior
Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of
$55 per one three-hundredth of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation
and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase
and related Certificate duly executed. The Purchase Price may be paid in cash or
by certified bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company. 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 August
19, 1999, based on the Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.
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, an Adverse Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in
the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of any such Acquiring Person, Adverse
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, an Adverse Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
any such Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof
shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence
of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event.
As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the
number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities which may be
purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events,
including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).
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 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
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<PAGE>
like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like
aggregate number of one three-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock as the
Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered
shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be
exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights
not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights
evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a
redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earliest of the
close of business on (i) the tenth business day following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (ii) the tenth business day following the a declaration by the Board of
Directors that a Person is an Adverse Person, or, if later, the date such Person
acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock,
and (iii) the Final Expiration Date. After the expiration of the redemption
period, the Company's right of redemption may be reinstated if an Acquiring
Person reduces his beneficial ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock in a transaction or series of transactions not involving
the Company and there are no other Acquiring Persons or Adverse Persons.
The Company may (but shall not be required to) issue fractional
shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced
hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one three-hundredth
of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof a cash payment may be
made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to
vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of
Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time
be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or, to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any
purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS, the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the
Company and its corporate seal.
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<PAGE>
Dated as of ,
---------------
ATTEST: TALK.COM INC.
By
- ------------------------ ----------------------------
Secretary Title:
Countersigned:
FIRST CITY TRANSFER COMPANY
By
-----------------------------
Authorized Signature
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<PAGE>
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED hereby
--------------------------------
sells, assigns and transfers unto
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney, to transfer the
within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full
power of substitution.
Dated: ,
----------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies 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,
an Adverse Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms
are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any
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<PAGE>
Person who is, was or subsequently became an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person
or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ,
-----------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-6-
<PAGE>
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to
exercise Rights represented by the
Rights Certificate.)
To: TALK.COM INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other
securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the
exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued
in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights
shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
(Please print name and address)
Dated: ,
-----------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
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<PAGE>
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, an Adverse Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement);
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned,
it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person, an Adverse Person or
an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.
Dated: ,
-----------------
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate
must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate
in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
-8-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
On August 19, 1999, the Board of Directors of Talk.com Inc. (the
"Company") announced that its Board of Directors had adopted a Stockholder
Rights Plan and declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each
outstanding share of Company Common Stock to stockholders of record at the close
of business on August 30, 1999. One Right will also be distributed for each
share of Common Stock issued after August 30, 1999, until the Distribution Date
(which is described in the next paragraph). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company a unit consisting of one three-hundredth of
a share (a "Unit") of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock"), at a Purchase Price of $55 per Unit, subject to adjustment.
The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement
dated as of August 19, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and
First City Transfer Company, as Rights Agent.
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Stock
certificates representing shares then outstanding, and no separate Rights
Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock
and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earliest of (i) 10 business days
following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or
associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), (ii) 10 business days following the
commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would if consummated
result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or more of such outstanding
shares of Common Stock, subject to certain limitations (or, if later, the date
of receipt of any required regulatory approvals or approvals of the stockholders
of such person or group for such tender or exchange offer), or (iii) 10 business
days after the Board of Directors of the Company shall declare any Person to be
an "Adverse Person," upon a determination that such person, alone or together
with its affiliates and associates, has or will become the Beneficial Owner of
15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (provided that any such
determination shall not be effective until such Person has become the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), including
consultation with such persons as such directors shall deem appropriate, that
(a) such beneficial ownership by such person is intended to cause, is reasonably
likely to cause or would cause the Company to change its strategic direction
under circumstances where the Board of Directors believes that such change is
not in the best interest of the Company and its Stockholders, employees,
customers, suppliers or other constituencies of the Company and its
subsidiaries, or (b) such beneficial ownership by such person is intended to
cause, is reasonably likely to cause or will cause pressure on the Company to
take action or enter into a transaction or series of transactions including by
causing a transaction with such person or other person, intended to provide such
person with short-term financial gain under circumstances where the Board of
Directors determines that the best long-term interests of the Company and its
stockholders would not be served by taking such action or entering into such
transactions
<PAGE>
or series of transactions at that time or (c) such beneficial ownership is
causing or is reasonably likely to cause a material adverse impact (including,
but not limited to, impairment of relationships with customers or impairment of
the Company's ability to maintain its competitive position) on the business or
prospects of the Company or (d) such beneficial ownership otherwise is
determined to be not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders,
employees, customers, suppliers, or other constituencies of the Company or its
subsidiaries.
However, the Board of Directors may not declare a person to be an
Adverse Person if, prior to the time that the person acquired 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding, such person provided to the Board of
Directors in writing a statement of the person's purpose and intentions in
connection with the proposed acquisition of Common Stock, together with any
other information reasonably requested of the person by the Board of Directors,
and the Board of Directors, based on such statement and reasonable inquiry and
investigation as it deems appropriate, determines to notify and notifies such
person in writing that it will not declare the person to be an Adverse Person;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may expressly condition in any
manner a determination not to declare a person an Adverse Person on such
conditions as the Board of Directors may select, including, without limitation,
such person's not acquiring more than a specified amount of stock and/or on such
person's not taking actions inconsistent with the purposes and intentions
disclosed by such person in the statement provided to the Board of Directors. In
the event that the Board of Directors should at any time determine, upon
reasonable inquiry and investigation, that such person has not met or complied
with any conditions specified by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors
may at any time thereafter declare the person to be an Adverse Person.
Until the Distribution Date (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the
Common Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common
Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after August 30,
1999 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and
(iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificate.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will
expire at the close of business on August 19, 2009, subject to extension by the
Board of Directors, or unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described
below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights
Certificates alone will represent the Rights. Except for certain issuances in
connection with outstanding options and convertible securities and as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, only shares of Common Stock issued prior
to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
<PAGE>
In the event that the Board of Directors determines that a person
is an Adverse Person or, at any time following the Distribution Date, a person
becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of
Common Stock, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive
at the time specified in the Rights Agreement, (x) upon exercise and payment of
the exercise price, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property
or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the
exercise price of the Right or (y) at the discretion of the Board of Directors,
upon exercise and without payment of the exercise price, Common Stock (or, in
certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having
a value equal to the difference between the exercise price of the Right and the
value of the consideration which would be payable under clause (x).
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the
events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain
circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any
Acquiring Person or Adverse Person will be null and void. However, Rights are
not exercisable following the occurrence of either of the events set forth above
until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set
forth below.
For example, at an exercise price of $20 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person or an Adverse Person (or by certain related
parties) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle
its holder to purchase $40 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as
noted above) for $20. Assuming that the Common Stock had a per share value of
$10 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase
four shares of Common Stock for $20. Alternatively, at the discretion of the
Board of Directors, each Right following an event set forth in the preceding
paragraph, without payment of the exercise price, would entitle its holder to
Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) worth $20.
In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition
Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other
business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving
corporation, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is
sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have
been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two
times the exercise price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph
and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the "Triggering
Events."
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Units of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) if holders of the Preferred Stock are granted certain
rights or warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii)
<PAGE>
upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of
indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of
subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will
be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase
Price. No fractional Units will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in
cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last
trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as
and if declared by the Board of Directors, a minimum preferential quarterly
dividend payment of $10 per share or, if greater, an aggregate dividend of 300
times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum
preferential liquidation payment of $300 per share and will be entitled to an
aggregate payment of 300 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each
share of Preferred Stock will have 300 votes, voting together with the Common
Stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
Common Stock is changed or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 300 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions. Because of the
nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the
value of one three-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon
exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common
Stock.
In general, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $0.001 per Right, at any time until 10 business days
following the Stock Acquisition Date. Moreover, redemption would not be
permitted after 10 business days following the effective date of any declaration
by the Board of Directors that any person is an Adverse Person. After the
redemption period has expired, the Company's right of redemption may be
reinstated if an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person reduces his beneficial
ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in a
transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company and there are no
other Acquiring Persons or Adverse Persons. Immediately upon the action of the
Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001
redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will
not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending
upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights
become exercisable for stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth above.
<PAGE>
Other than certain provisions relating to the principal economic
terms of the Rights under certain specified circumstances, any of the provisions
of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company
prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of
the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity,
to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person or Adverse Person), or to
shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided,
however, that no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall
be made when the Rights are not redeemable.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A
dated August 27, 1999. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of
charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights
Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
