ex410809.htm


 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

AND

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

 

AS RIGHTS AGENT

 

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 14, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




  



  







  




 

Table of Contents

 

Page

 


	
SECTION 1
	
Certain Definitions 
	
1




 


	
SECTION 2
	
Appointment of Rights Agent 
	
7




 


	
SECTION 3
	
Issue of Right Certificates. 
	
7




 


	
SECTION 4
	
Form of Right Certificates. 
	
9




 


	
SECTION 5
	
Countersignature and Registration.
	
10




 


	
SECTION 6
	
Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates. 
	
10




 


	
SECTION 7
	
Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights. 
	
11




 


	
SECTION 8
	
Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates 
	
13




 


	
SECTION 9
	
Reservation and Availability of Common Stock 
	
14




 


	
SECTION 10
	
Record Date 
	
15




 


	
SECTION 11
	
Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights 
	
15




 


	
SECTION 12
	
Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares 
	
23




 


	
SECTION 13
	
Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power. 
	
23




 


	
SECTION 14
	
Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares. 
	
26




 


	
SECTION 15
	
Rights of Action 
	
26




 


	
SECTION 16
	
Agreement of Right Holders 
	
27




 


	
SECTION 17
	
Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder 
	
27




 


	
SECTION 18
	
Concerning the Rights Agent. 
	
28




 


	
SECTION 19
	
Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. 
	
28




 


	
SECTION 20
	
Duties of Rights Agent 
	
29




 


	
SECTION 21
	
Change of Rights Agent 
	
31




 


	
SECTION 22
	
Issuance of New Right Certificates 
	
32




 

 




  



  







  




 


	
SECTION 23
	
Redemption. 
	
32




 


	
SECTION 24
	
Exchange. 
	
33




 


	
SECTION 25
	
Notice of Certain Events. 
	
34




 


	
SECTION 26
	
Notices 
	
35




 


	
SECTION 27
	
Supplements and Amendments 
	
36




 


	
SECTION 28
	
Successors 
	
37




 


	
SECTION 29
	
Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors 
	
37




 


	
SECTION 30
	
Benefits of this Agreement 
	
37




 


	
SECTION 31
	
Severability 
	
37




 


	
SECTION 32
	
Governing Law 
	
38




 


	
SECTION 33
	
Counterparts 
	
38




 


	
SECTION 34
	
Descriptive Headings 
	
38




 


	
SECTION 35
	
Force Majeure 
	
38




 

 

 

 




  



  







  




 

STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Stockholder Rights Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of August 14, 2009, is between Kendle International Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC a New York limited liability trust company (the "Rights Agent").

 

WITNESSETH

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company desires to provide stockholders of the Company with the opportunity to benefit from the long-term prospects and value of the Company and to ensure that stockholders of the Company receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the
Company;

 

WHEREAS, on August 14, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as such term is hereinafter defined) for each outstanding share of Common Stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") outstanding as of August 14, 2009
(the "Record Date"), and authorized the issuance of one Right for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued (whether or not originally issued or sold from the Company's treasury, except in the case of treasury shares having associated Rights) between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Common Stock of the Company, no par
value (the "Rights"); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act as rights agent hereunder, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1  Certain Definitions.  For purposes of this agreement, the following terms
have the meanings indicated:

 

(a)           "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as such term is hereinafter defined) and Associates (as such term is hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall
be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan or compensation arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or (iv) any Person holding shares of Common Stock of the Company organized, appointed or established by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for
or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or compensation arrangement (the Persons described in clauses (i) through (iv) above are referred to herein as "Exempt Persons").

 




  



  







  




 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an "Acquiring Person" as the result of an acquisition by the Company of Common Stock of the Company, which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares Beneficially Owned by such Person to 15% or more
of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares (other than pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction) of Common Stock of the Company and immediately thereafter be the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding, then such Person shall be deemed to be an "Acquiring Person."

 

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in the Agreement, including without limitation that which is provided for in Sections 3(a), 24 or 27,
a Person shall not be an "Acquiring Person" if the Board of Directors of the Company determines at any time that a Person who would otherwise be an "Acquiring Person," has become such without intending to become an "Acquiring Person," and such Person divests as promptly as practicable (or within such period of time as the Board of Directors of the Company determines is reasonable) a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (or, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Derivative Common
Shares (as such term is hereinafter defined), terminates the subject derivative transaction or transactions or disposes of the subject derivative security or securities) so that such Person would no longer be an "Acquiring Person," as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(a).

 

(b)           "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

 

(c)           "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations (the "Rules") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in
effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that no Person who is a director or officer of the Company shall be deemed an Affiliate or an Associate of any other director or officer of the Company solely as a result of his or her position as director or officer of the Company.

 

(d)           "APBO" shall mean the percentage of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding that are Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person on the Stock Acquisition Date.

 

(e)           "Applicable Percentage" shall mean the number, expressed as a percentage, that is equal to 50 - [16.67 x ((APBO-15)/45)]; provided, however, that if APBO is greater than or equal to 50% then the Applicable Percentage shall be 33.33%.
By way of example, the "Applicable Percentage" will be (A) 50%, if on the Stock Acquisition Date the Acquiring Person Beneficially Owns 15% of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding and (B) 33.33%, if on the Stock Acquisition Date the Acquiring Person Beneficially Owns 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding.

 

 




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(f)           A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, and shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own" and have "Beneficial Ownership" of, any securities:

 

(i)           that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, Beneficially Owns (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act Rules, as in effect on the date of this Agreement);

 

(ii)           that such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has:

 

(A)           the right to acquire (whether or not such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of any conditions or both) pursuant to
any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), including, for the avoidance of doubt, through agreements to enter into agreements that permit a Person to purchase such securities, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person
shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own" or have "Beneficial Ownership" of, (1) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; (2) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is hereinafter defined); or (3) 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 Sections 3(a), 11(k) or 22 hereof;
or

 

(B)           the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing); provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "Beneficially Own" or have "Beneficial Ownership"
of, any security under this clause (B) if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to a written proxy or consent solicitation statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Rules of the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable by such person on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
or

 

(C)           the right to dispose of pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (other than customary arrangements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public
offering of securities);

 

(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) (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in clause (B) of Section 1(f)(ii)
hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company; or
 


 

 




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(iv)           that are deemed so Beneficially Owned as Derivative Common Shares; provided, however, that (1) no Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall be deemed the Beneficial Owner of any securities acquired through such
Person's participation as an underwriter in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) days after the date of such acquisition, and (2) no Person who is a director or an officer of the Company shall be deemed, as a result of his or her position as director or officer of the Company, the Beneficial Owner of any securities of the Company that are Beneficially Owned by any other director or officer of the Company.

 

(v)           For all purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to the percentage of the then outstanding securities Beneficially Owned by a Person, shall mean the number of securities then issued and outstanding
together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.

 

(g)           "Articles of Incorporation" when used in reference to the Company shall mean the Articles of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, of the Company.

 

(h)           "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

(i)           "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York, New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York, New York time, on the next succeeding Business
Day.

 

(j)           "Common Stock" when used in reference to the Company shall mean the common stock, no par value per share, of the Company or any other shares of capital stock of the Company into which such stock shall be reclassified or changed. "Common
Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company organized in corporate form shall mean (i) the capital stock or other equity interest of such Person with the greatest voting power, (ii) the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management of such Person or (iii) if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons that ultimately control such first-mentioned Person and that have issued any such outstanding capital stock, equity
securities or equity interest. "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person not organized in corporate form shall mean units of beneficial interest that (x) shall represent the right to participate generally in the profits and losses of such Person (including without limitation any flow-through tax benefits resulting from an ownership interest in such Person) and (y) shall be entitled to exercise the greatest voting power of such Person or, in the case of a limited partnership, shall have the power to
remove or otherwise replace the general partner or partners.

 

 




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(k)           "Common Stock Equivalents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.

 

(l)           "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

 

(m)           "Depositary Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c) hereof.

 


(n)           "Derivative Common Shares" shall mean a derivative transaction entered into by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, or derivative security acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates,
which gives such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates the economic equivalent of ownership of an amount of such securities due to the fact that the value of the derivative is explicitly determined by reference to the price or value of such securities, or which provides such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates an opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit, or to share in any profit, derived from any change in the value of such securities, in any case without regard to
whether (a) such derivative conveys any voting rights in such securities to such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, (b) the derivative is required to be, or capable of being, settled through delivery of such securities, or (c) such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of such derivative. In determining the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company Beneficially Owned by virtue of the operation
of the applicable definitions herein, the subject Person shall be deemed to Beneficially Own (without duplication) the notional or other number of shares of Common Stock of the Company specified in the documentation evidencing the derivative position as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the applicable right or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such right, or the opportunity of the holder of such right to profit or share in any profit, is to be calculated in
whole or in part, and in any case (or if no such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company is specified in such documentation or otherwise), as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith to be the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company to which the derivative position relates.




(o)           "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

 

(p)           "Exchange Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

 

(q)           "Exempt Person" shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of "Acquiring Person."



(r)           "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

 

(s)           "Expiration Date" and "Final Expiration Date" shall have the meanings set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

 

         
 (t)           "Fair Market Value" of any securities or other property shall be as determined in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.

 





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(u)           "Group" shall have the meaning set forth in clause (b) of the definition of "Person."

 

(v)           "Person" shall mean (a) an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a business trust, a government
or political subdivision, any unincorporated organization, or any other association or entity including any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereof or thereto, and (b) a "group" as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(w)           "Principal Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

 

(x)           "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

 

(y)           "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23 hereof.

 

(z)           "Registered Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

 

(aa)           "Right Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

 

(bb)           "Section 11(b) Event"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.

 

(cc)           "Section 11(b) Trigger
Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

 

(dd)           "Section 13 Event"
shall mean any event described in clauses (x), (y) or (z) of Section 13(a) hereof.

 

(ee)           "Section 24(a)(i) Exchange
Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)(i) hereof.

 

(ff)           "Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange
Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a)(ii) hereof.

 

(gg)           "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

 

(hh)           "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the date of the first public announcement (which for purposes of this definition shall include, without limitation, the issuance of a press
release or the filing of a publicly-available report or other document with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental agency) by the Company, acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, or by an Acquiring Person, subject in each case to the last paragraph of Section 1(a),
that an Acquiring Person has become such.

 





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(ii)           "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power sufficient, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions of such corporation or other entity are at the time directly or indirectly Beneficially Owned or otherwise controlled by such Person either alone or together with one or more Affiliates of such Person.

 

(jj)           "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(c) hereof.

 

(kk)           "Triggering Event" shall mean any Section 11(b) 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 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. In the event the Company appoints one or more Co-Rights Agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any Co-Rights Agents shall be as the Company shall determine. The Company shall give ten (10) days' prior written notice to the Rights Agent of the appointment of
one or more Co-Rights Agents and the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any such Co-Rights Agents. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such Co-Rights Agent.

 

SECTION 3  Issue of Right Certificates.

 

(a)           From the date hereof until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth calendar day after the Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business
Day (or such later calendar day, if any, as the Board of Directors of the Company may determine in its sole discretion) after the date a tender or exchange offer by any Person, other than an Exempt Person, is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act, or any successor rule, if, upon consummation thereof, such Person could become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (including any such date which is after
the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights) (the earliest of such dates being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for the Common Stock of
the Company registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock of the Company (which certificates for Common Stock of the Company 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 of the Company. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will, at the Company's expense send, by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to
each record holder of the Common Stock of the Company 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 certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Right Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock of the Company so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock of the Company
has been made pursuant to Section 11(q) hereof, the Company may make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof)
at the time of distribution of the Right Certificates, so that Right Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights.  As of and after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates.
 


 





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(b)           With respect to certificates for the Common Stock of the Company issued prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates for the Common Stock of the Company on or until the Distribution
Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), and the registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company also shall be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier redemption, expiration or termination of the Rights), the transfer of any of the certificates for the Common Stock of the Company outstanding prior to the date of this Agreement shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company
represented by such certificate.

 

(c)           Certificates for the Common Stock of the Company issued after the Record Date, but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear a legend, substantially
in the form set forth below:

 

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Stockholder Rights Agreement between Kendle International Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (or any successor thereto), as Rights Agent, as amended, restated, renewed, supplemented
or extended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which may be obtained at the principal offices of Kendle International Inc. and the stock transfer administration office of the Rights Agent. 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. Kendle International Inc. may redeem the Rights at a Redemption
Price of $0.01 per Right, subject to adjustment, under the terms of the Rights Agreement. Kendle International Inc. will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, Rights issued to or held by Acquiring Persons or any Affiliates or Associates thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement), and any subsequent holder of such Rights, may become null and void.
The Rights shall not be exercisable, and shall be void so long as held, by a holder in any jurisdiction where the requisite qualification, if any, to the issuance to such holder, or the exercise by such holder, of the Rights in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained or be obtainable.

 

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, the Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, and the transfer of any of such
certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock of the Company represented by such certificates. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock of the Company after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Stock of
the Company shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock of the Company that are no longer outstanding. The failure to print the foregoing legend on any such certificate representing Common Stock of the Company or any defect therein shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the application or interpretation of the provisions of Section 1(e) hereof.

 





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SECTION 4  Form of Right Certificates.

 

(a)           The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase shares and of assignment and certificate to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the
form of 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, rule or regulation 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 customary usage. The Right Certificates shall be in a machine printable
format and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof,
the Right Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date, shall show the date of countersignature, and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (the "Exercise Price"), but the number of such shares and the Exercise Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(b)           Any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or
Section 22 hereof that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) regarding
the transferred Rights, the shares of Common Stock of the Company associated with such Rights or the Company or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof,
and any Right Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6, Section 11 or
Section 22 upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Right Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall have deleted therefrom the second sentence of the existing legend on such Right Certificate and in substitution therefor shall contain the following
legend:

 

The Rights represented by this Right Certificate are or were Beneficially Owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or an Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement). This
Right Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void under certain circumstances as specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.

 





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The Company shall give notice to the Rights Agent promptly after it becomes aware of the existence and identity of any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof. The Company shall instruct the Rights Agent in writing of the Rights
that should be so legended. The failure to print the foregoing legend on any such Right Certificate or any defect therein shall not affect in any manner whatsoever the application or interpretation of the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof.

 

SECTION 5  Countersignature and Registration.

 

(a)           The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President and by its Treasurer, or any Assistant Treasurer, or by its
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested to by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by facsimile signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned, and such countersignature upon
any Right Certificate shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Right Certificate has been duly countersigned as required hereunder. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company
with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

 

Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at one of its offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Right Certificates upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show
the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.

 

SECTION 6  Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.

 

(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 Right Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock (or following a Triggering Event: Common Stock of the Company, cash, property, debt securities, Common Stock Equivalent or any combination thereof,
including any such securities, cash or property following a Section 13 Event) as the Right Certificate or

 





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Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase and at the same Exercise Price. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the
Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged, with the form of assignment and certificate duly executed, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form
of assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate 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 Right Certificate or Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment by the registered holder of a Right Certificate, of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.

 

(b)           Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent (i) of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, (and in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security
satisfactory to them) and (ii) reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and (iii) upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate, if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

 

SECTION 7  Exercise of Rights; Exercise Price; Expiration Date of Rights.

 

(a)           Subject to Section 7(e) hereof,
the registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the total number of one one-thousandths
(1/1,000) of a share of Common Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercised, at or prior to the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the fifth anniversary of the Record Date (the "Final Expiration Date"), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof
(the "Redemption Date") or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the "Exchange Date") (the earliest of (i), (ii) or (iii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date"). Except as set forth in Section 7(e) hereof
and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Person who prior to the Distribution Date becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company may exercise all of the rights of a registered holder of a Right Certificate with respect to the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, as of the date such Person becomes a record holder of shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 





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(b)           The Exercise Price for each one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be Five Dollars and No Cents ($5.00), shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section 13 hereof
and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(c) below.

 

(c)           As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, the Company shall deposit with a corporation, trust, bank or similar institution in good standing organized under
the laws of the United States or any State of the United States, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by a federal or state authority (such institution is hereinafter referred to as the "Depositary Agent"), certificates representing the shares of Common Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights and the Company shall cause such Depositary Agent to enter into an agreement pursuant to which the Depositary
Agent shall issue receipts representing interests in the shares of Common Stock so deposited. Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax (as determined by the Rights Agent) by certified check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company or by money order,
the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) and Section 14(b) hereof,
thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the Depositary Agent (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the Depositary Agent) depositary receipts or certificates for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes the Depositary Agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof,
(iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt of each certificate or depositary receipts promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common
Stock of the Company) of the Company, pay cash or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when
appropriate. The payment of the Exercise Price may be made by certified or bank check payable to the order of the Company, or by money order or wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company (provided that notice of such wire transfer shall be given by the holder of the related Right to the Rights Agent).

 

(d)           In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the
Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event
or Section 13 Event, any Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring
Person becomes such or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for 

 





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consideration) from the Acquiring  Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights,
the shares of Common Stock of the Company associated with such Rights or the Company, or (B) a transfer that 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 the avoidance of this Section 7(e),
shall be 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 ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and
Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Right Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person or any transferee
of any of them 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 of Rights 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 Right Certificate
surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.

 

(g)           A committee of the Board of Directors of the Company shall periodically review this Agreement to consider whether the maintenance of this Agreement continues to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders in its current
form and whether any changes to this Agreement are deemed necessary or advisable including, without limitation, changes to the Exercise Price, the Applicable Percentage, or other terms hereof. The committee shall consist solely of independent directors of the Company and shall conduct such review when, as and in such manner as the committee deems appropriate, after giving due regard to all relevant circumstances; provided, however, that the committee shall take such action at least once every two years. Following
each such review, the committee will report its conclusions to the Board of Directors of the Company, including any recommendation in light thereof as to whether this Agreement should be maintained, modified, terminated or the Rights redeemed. The committee is authorized to retain such legal counsel, financial advisors and other advisors as the committee deems appropriate to assist the committee in carrying out its foregoing responsibilities under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8  Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates.  All Right Certificates
surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement.
The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company.
 


 





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SECTION 9  Reservation and Availability of Common Stock.  The Company covenants and
agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or any authorized and issued shares of Common Stock held in its treasury, the number of shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding and exercisable Rights. Upon the occurrence of any events resulting in an increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Rights in excess of the number then
reserved, the Company shall make appropriate increases in the number of shares so reserved.

 

(a)           The Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all shares of Common Stock issued or reserved for issuance to be listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon the principal
national securities exchange, if any, upon which the Common Stock of the Company theretofore authorized is listed or, if the principal market for such Common Stock of the Company is not on any national securities exchange, to be eligible for quotation on such system as such Common Stock is then quoted.

 

(b)           The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event
on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(c) hereof, or as soon as required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus that at all times meets the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities or (B) the Expiration
Date. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, and which will 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 determined in accordance with the provisions of the first sentence of this Section
9(b), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended,
as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect, in each case with prompt written notice to the Rights Agent. Notwithstanding any such 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.

 

(c)           The Company covenants and agrees that it will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Common Stock delivered upon the exercise of the Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates or depositary
receipts for such shares (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
 


 





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(d)           The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right Certificates or of any certificates
for shares of Common Stock and/or other property upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates or the issuance or delivery of other securities or property to a person other than, or in respect of the issuance or delivery of securities or other property in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue
or deliver any certificates for securities or other property 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 Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

 

SECTION 10  Record Date.  Each Person in whose name any certificate for Common Stock
or other securities (including any fraction of a share of Common Stock or such other securities) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock or such other securities represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the
date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the Company for the Common Stock or such other securities, as applicable, are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares of Common Stock or such other securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the transfer books of the Company are open; and further provided, however, that if delivery of shares of Common Stock or such other securities is delayed
pursuant to Section 9(b), such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares of Common Stock or such other securities only when such shares or such other securities first become deliverable. Prior to the exercise of the Right evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other
distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

 

SECTION 11  Adjustment of Exercise Price,
Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights.  The Exercise 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)           In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (i) declare a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issue, change or alter any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification or recapitalization of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification or recapitalization in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is 

 





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the continuing or surviving Person), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and
Section 7(e) hereof, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or the effective time of such subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date or at such
time, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which that if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Common Stock transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination, reclassification or recapitalization; provided,
however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of a Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of a Right. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a) and
Section 11(b) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a) shall
be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(b) hereof.

 

(b)           Subject to the provisions of Section 24 hereof,
in the event any Person, alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall become an Acquiring Person, then, promptly following any such occurrence (a "Section 11(b) Event"), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof,
shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event,
whether or not such Right was then exercisable, and dividing that product by (y) the product of the Applicable Percentage and the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock of the Company (determined pursuant to Section 11(f) on the date of the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event
(such number of shares being referred to as the "Adjustment Shares").

 

(c)           In lieu of issuing any shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with Section 11(b) hereof,
the Company, acting by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, may, and in the event that the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company that are authorized by the Company's Articles of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing Section 11(b),
the Company, acting by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall: (i) determine the excess of (X) the Fair Market Value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (Y) the Exercise Price attributable to each Right (such excess being referred to as the "Spread") and (ii) with respect to all or a portion of each Right (subject to Section 7(e) hereof),
make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Exercise Price, (A) Common Stock Equivalents of the Company, (B) cash, (C) a reduction in the Exercise Price, (D) Common Stock Equivalents that the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value as shares of Common Stock of the Company, (E) debt securities of the Company, (F) other assets or securities of the Company or 

 





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(G) 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 after receiving the advice of a nationally recognized investment
banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (ii) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(b) 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(b) Trigger
Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Exercise Price, shares of Common Stock of the Company (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 of the Company could be authorized for issuance upon exercise
in full of the Rights, the 30-day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(b) 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, being referred to herein as 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(c),
the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek 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 first issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended and then issue before a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section
11(c), the value of the Common Stock of the Company shall be the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof)
per share of the Common Stock of the Company on the Section 11(b) Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock of the Company on such date.

 

(d)           If the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within forty-five
(45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock (or securities having the same or more favorable rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Common Stock ("Common Stock Equivalents")) or securities convertible into Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents at a price per share of Common Stock or per share of Common Stock Equivalents (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents) less than the Fair Market
Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof) per share of Common Stock on such record date, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock and/or Common Stock Equivalents to be offered (and the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Fair Market Value and the denominator of which shall be the 

 





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number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to
be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of a Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of a Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be the Fair Market Value thereof determined in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
Shares of Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

(e)           If the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of Common Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation
or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Common Stock) or convertible securities, subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(d),
the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof)
per one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock on such record date, less the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such convertible securities, subscription
rights or warrants applicable to one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock and the denominator of which shall be the Fair Market Value (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof) per one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall
the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of a Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of a Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall again be adjusted to be the Exercise Price which would be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

(f)           For the purpose of this Agreement, the "Fair Market Value" of any share of Common Stock or any other stock or any Right or other security or any other property shall be determined
as provided in this Section 11(f).

 

(i)           In the case of a publicly-traded stock or other security, the Fair Market Value on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such stock or per unit of such other security for the thirty (30)
consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Fair Market Value per share of any share of stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such stock of (x) a dividend or distribution on such stock payable in shares of such stock or securities convertible into shares of such stock or (y) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of 





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such stock, and prior to the expiration of the thirty (30) Trading Day period 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 Fair Market Value 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 Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as reported in the principal
consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed or admitted to trading; or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price (or, if not so quoted, the average of the last quoted high bid and low asked prices) in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, the Pink Sheets or such other system then in use; or, if on any such date no bids
for such security are 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 such security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such security, the Fair Market Value of such security on such date shall be determined reasonably and with utmost good faith to the holders of the Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company, provided, however, that if at
the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of such security on such date shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which 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. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such security is listed
or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

 

(ii)           If a security is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair value per share of stock or per other unit of such security, determined reasonably and in good faith to the holders of the Rights
by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if at the time of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of such security on such date shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which 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.

 

(iii)           In the case of property other than securities, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined reasonably and in good faith to the holders of Rights by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that if at the time
of such determination there is an Acquiring Person, the Fair Market Value of such property on such date shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, which determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding upon the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.

 





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(g)           Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least
1.0% in the Exercise Price; provided, however, that any adjustments, which by reason of this Section 11(g) are not required to be made, shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall
be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-millionth of a share of Common Stock of the Company or to such other figure as the Board of Directors of the Company may deem appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.

 

(h)           If as a result of any provision of Section 11(a), (b) or (c) or
Section 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Common Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment
from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the Common Stock contained in this Section 11, inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 hereof
with respect to the Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

 

(i)           All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common
Stock (or other securities or amount of cash or combination thereof) purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

(j)           Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(k),
upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(d) and (e),
each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock (calculated to the nearest hundred-millionth) as the Board of Directors of the Company determines is appropriate to preserve the economic value of the Rights, including, by way of example, that number obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for
which a Right may be exercisable immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price.

 

(k)           The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Exercise Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each
of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-millionth) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of 





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the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Exercise 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 Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(k),
the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such
adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear,
at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

 

(l)           Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue
to express the Exercise Price per share and the number of shares which were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder without prejudice to any adjustment or change.

 

(m)           Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below the then stated value, if any, of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company
shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Exercise Price.

 

(n)           In any case in which this Section 11 shall
require that an adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock or other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock and other capital stock or securities of
the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

 

(o)           Anything in this Section 11 to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine
to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Common Stock, issuance wholly for cash of any shares of Common Stock at less than the Fair Market Value, issuance wholly for cash of shares of Common Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, stock dividends
or issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Common Stock, shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

 





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(p)           The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date and so long as the Rights have not been redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof
or exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof, (i) consolidate with (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with the proviso at the end of this sentence), (ii) merge with or into, 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 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with the proviso at the end of this sentence) if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments outstanding
or agreements or arrangements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights, or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale the stockholders of a Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for the 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; provided, however, that, subject to the following sentence, this Section 11(p) shall
not affect the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, or merge with or into, or sell or transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company. The Company further covenants and agrees that after the Distribution Date it will not, except as permitted by Section 23 or
Section 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

 

(q)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date (i)
declare or pay any dividend on the outstanding Common Stock of the Company payable in shares of Common Stock of the Company or (ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in shares of Common Stock of the Company) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock of the Company, then in any such case (A) the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock purchasable
after such event upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock so purchasable immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each share of Common Stock of the Company outstanding
immediately after such event shall have issued with respect to it that number of Rights which each share of Common Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(q) shall be made
successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected.

 





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(r)           The exercise of Rights under Section 11(b) shall
only result in the loss of rights under Section 11(b) to the extent so exercised and neither such exercise nor any exchange of Rights pursuant to Section 24 shall
otherwise affect the rights of holders of Right Certificates under this Rights Agreement, including rights to purchase securities of the Principal Party following a Section 13 Event which has occurred or may thereafter occur, as set forth in Section 13 hereof.
Upon exercise of a Right Certificate under Section 11(b), the Rights Agent shall return such Right Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred.

 

SECTION 12  Certificate of Adjusted Exercise
Price or Number of Shares.  Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 or Section 13 hereof,
the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock and the Common Stock of the Company a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock of the Company) in accordance
with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

 

SECTION 13  Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.

 

(a)           In the event that, following the Stock Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than
a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which is not prohibited by Section 11(p) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that
is not prohibited by the proviso at the end of the first sentence of Section 11(p) hereof) shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger,
all or part of the shares of Common Stock of the Company 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, mortgage or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell, mortgage or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other
Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions, each of which is not prohibited by the proviso at the end of the first sentence of Section 11(p) hereof), then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Exercise Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable
shares of freely tradable Common Stock of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined in Section 13(b), free and clear of rights of call or first refusal, liens, encumbrances, transfer restrictions or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying
the then current Exercise Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Common Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (without taking into account any adjustment previously made pursuant 





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to Section 11(b) or 11(c) hereof),
and dividing that product by (2) the product of the Applicable Percentage and the Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof) per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer;
(ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale, mortgage or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof
shall apply to such Principal Party; and (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock to permit exercise of all outstanding Rights in accordance with this Section 13(a) and
the making of payments in cash and/or other securities in accordance with Section 11(c) hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares
of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights.

 

(b)           "Principal Party" shall mean

 

(i)           in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a),
the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which shares of Common Stock of the Company are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Stock that has the highest aggregate Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f),
and if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to the merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f); and

 

(ii)           in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a),
the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever Person the Common Stock of which has the highest aggregate Fair Market
Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f); provided, however, that in any such case described in clauses (i) or (ii) of Section 13(b) hereof,
(1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding 12-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act ("Registered Common Stock") or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary or Affiliate of another Person who has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to the ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person;
(3) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common Stock having the highest aggregate Fair Market

 





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Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f);
and (4) if the Common Stock of such Person is not Registered Common Stock or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and none of such other Persons has Registered Common Stock outstanding, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the corporation having the greatest stockholders' equity or, if no such ultimate parent entity is a corporation, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the
entity having the greatest net assets.

 

(c)           The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer unless prior thereto (x) 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 (y) the Company and each Principal Party and each other Person who may become a Principal Party as a result of such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in Section 13(a) and (b) and
further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, sale or transfer of assets mentioned in Section 13(a), the Principal Party at its own expense will:

 

(i)           prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, cause such registration statement to become effective as
soon as practicable after such filing and cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus that at all times meets the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date;

 

(ii)           qualify or register the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights under the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as may be necessary or appropriate;

 

(iii)           list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange or to meet the eligibility requirements for listing on an automated quotation system or such
other system on which the Common Stock of the Company is then traded; and

 

(iv)           deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 under the Exchange Act.

 

(d)           In case the Principal Party which is to be a party to a transaction referred to in this Section 13 has
a provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or By-laws or other instrument governing its affairs, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13),
in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current Fair Market Value (determined pursuant to Section 11(f))
or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such Fair Market Value, or (ii) providing for any special payment, tax or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13,
then, in such event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.

 





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The provisions of this Section 13 shall
similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.

 

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(l) hereof,
or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. If the Company elects not to issue such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay, in lieu of such fractional Rights, to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a whole Right, as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof.

 

(b)           The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Common
Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock). In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of
the Fair Market Value of one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Fair Market Value of one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock shall be determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof
for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

 

(c)           The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives his 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 Sections 18 and 20 hereof,
are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock of the Company), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock of the Company), may, in such registered holder's own behalf and for such
registered holder's own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to exercise the Right evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies

 





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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. Holders of Rights shall be entitled to recover the reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by them in any action to enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 16  Agreement of Right Holders.  Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same,
consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:

 

(a)           prior to the Distribution Date, each Right will be transferable only simultaneously and together with the transfer of shares of Common Stock of the Company;

 

(b)           after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, duly endorsed or accompanied
by a proper instrument of transfer;

 

(c)           subject to Sections 6(a) and7(f),
the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated certificate representing Common Stock of the Company) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificates or the associated certificate representing Common Stock of the Company made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever,
and, subject to the last sentence of Section 7(e), neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall 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 the 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 obligations; provided, however, that the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise
overturned as soon as possible.

 

SECTION 17  Right Certificate Holder Not
Deemed a Stockholder.  No holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or
any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof),
or to receive dividends or  subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.
 


 





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SECTION 18  Concerning the Rights Agent.

 

(a)           The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Rights Agent for all services rendered by it hereunder
and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and attorney 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 gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. The provisions of this Section 18(a) shall survive the expiration
of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(b)           The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate
representing Common Stock of the Company, Common Stock, or 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 in good faith and without negligence to be genuine and to be signed and executed by the proper Person or Persons.

 

(c)           The Rights Agent shall not be liable for consequential damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any consequential damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder.

 

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 stockholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided 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 Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 





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(b)           In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and
deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 

SECTION 20  Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations
expressly imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

 

(a)           The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken
or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.

 

(b)           Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of
Fair Market Value) 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 shall be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent. Any such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

 

(c)           The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

(d)           The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but
all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

 

(e)           The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution
of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming

 





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void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof)
or any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 11, 13 and 23(c) 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 Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate describing any such adjustment furnished in accordance with Section 12 hereof),
nor shall it be responsible for any determination by the Board of Directors of the Company of the Fair Market Value of the Rights or Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 14 hereof; 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 of the Company to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether or not any shares of Common Stock of the Company or Common 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 and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any person believed by the Rights Agent
to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and is authorized 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. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after
the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

(h)           The Rights Agent and any 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 peculiarly 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 the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

 

(i)           The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents.

 





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(j)           No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall
be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(k)           If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed
or indicates an affirmative response to clause (1) or clause (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 be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company by first class mail, provided, however, that in the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent with respect to the Common Stock of the Company terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically on the effective date of such termination. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent (with or
without cause), effective immediately or on a specified date, by written notice given to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock of the Company and Common Stock, and by giving notice to the holders of the Right Certificates by any means reasonably determined by the Company to inform such holders of such removal (including without limitation, by including such information in one or more of the Company's reports to stockholders or reports or
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission). 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 Right Certificate (who shall, with such
notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the incumbent Rights Agent or the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, the State of Ohio or the State of New York (or of any other state of the United States so long as
such corporation is authorized to do business as a banking institution in the State of Ohio or the State of New York), in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which 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 Person 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 





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-

 






Stock of the Company, and give notice to the holders of the Right Certificates by any means reasonably determined by the Company to inform such holders of such appointment (including without limitation, by including such information in one or
more of the Company's reports to stockholders or reports or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission). Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of
the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 22  Issuance of New Right Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of the provisions
of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares of stock or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares
of Common Stock of the Company following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock of the Company 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 hereafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Right Certificates
representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the person to whom such Right Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Right Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustments shall otherwise have
been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

 

SECTION 23  Redemption.

 

(a)           The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, redeem all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividend declared or paid,
any subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or any similar event occurring after the date of this Agreement (such redemption price, as adjusted from time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price"). The Rights may be redeemed only until the earlier to occur of (i) the time at which any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) the Final Expiration Date.

 

(b)           Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights in accordance with Section 23 hereof,
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 of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights in accordance with Section 23 hereof,
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 the Rights Agent and to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock 

 





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of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at
their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or
Section 24 hereof or in connection with the purchase of shares of Common Stock of the Company prior to the Distribution Date.

 

(c)           The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock of the Company (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock of the Company as of the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

SECTION 24  Exchange.

 

(a)

 

(i)           The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time on or after the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock of the Company
per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Section 24(a)(i) Exchange Ratio").

 

(ii)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time on or after the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event,
exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange ratio specified in the following sentence,
as appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date of this Agreement. Subject to the adjustment described in the foregoing sentence, each Right may be exchanged for that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company obtained by dividing the Spread (as defined in Section 11(c))
by the then Fair Market Value per one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock on the earlier of (x) the date on which any person becomes an Acquiring Person or (y) the date on which a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than an Exempt Person) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-4(a) of the Exchange Act or any successor rule, if upon consummation thereof such Person could become an Acquiring Person (such exchange ratio being referred to herein as the "Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange
Ratio").

 

(b)           Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and
without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights pursuant to Section 11(b) shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the number of such
Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Section 24(a)(i) Exchange Ratio or the 

 





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Section 24(a)(ii) Exchange
Ratio, as applicable; provided, however, that the holder of a Right exchanged pursuant to this Section 24 shall continue to have the right to purchase securities or other property of the Principal Party following a Section 13 Event
that has occurred or may thereafter occur. The Company shall promptly give notice of any such exchange in accordance with Section 26 hereof and shall promptly mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. 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 exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the shares of Common Stock of the Company for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged.
Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

 

(c)           In the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock of the Company (or Common Stock Equivalents) issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to
permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock of the Company (or Common Stock Equivalent) for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

 

(d)           The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Stock of the Company or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company.
If the Company elects not to issue such fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company, the Company shall pay, in lieu of such fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company, to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares of Common Stock of the Company would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Fair Market Value of a whole share of Common Stock of the Company. For the purposes of this paragraph (d), the Fair Market Value
of a whole share of Common Stock of the Company shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock of the Company (as determined pursuant to Section 11(f) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

 

SECTION 25  Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a)           In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect any sale, mortgage or other
transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale, mortgage or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which is not prohibited by the proviso at the end of the first sentence of Section 11(p) hereof),
or (ii) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (iii) to declare 

 





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or pay any dividend on the Common Stock of the Company payable in Common Stock of the Company or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Stock of the Company (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of
dividends in Common Stock of the Company), or (iv) to offer to the holder of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Common Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options then in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26 hereof,
a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock of the Company, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above
at least twenty (20) days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Common Stock of the Company, whichever shall be the earlier; provided, however, no such notice shall be required pursuant to this Section 25 as
a result of any Subsidiary of the Company effecting a consolidation or merger with or into, or effecting a sale or other transfer of assets or earnings power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(b)           In case any Section 11(b) Event
shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each registered holder of a Right Certificate and to the Rights Agent, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event
and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(b) hereof.

 

SECTION 26  Notices.  Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile transmission or by nationally-recognized overnight courier addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

 

Kendle International Inc.

441 Vine Street, Suite 500

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Facsimile No.: _____________

Attention:  Corporate Secretary

 

with a copy to:

 

F. Mark Reuter

Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400

Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Facsimile No.:  (513) 579-6457





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Subject to the provisions of Section 21,
any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile transmission or by nationally-recognized overnight courier addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

 

                    
Herbert J. Lemmer

                    American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

                    59
Maiden Lane

                    New
York NY  10038

                    Telephone:  (718)
921-8209

                    Fax:               
(718) 331-1852

                    E-mail:         
hlemmer@amstock.com

 

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of any certificate representing shares of Common Stock of the Company) shall be sufficiently given or made if
sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

 

SECTION 27  Supplements and Amendments.  Prior
to the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Board of Directors of the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement as the Board of Directors of the Company may deem necessary or desirable without the approval
of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock of the Company. From and after the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Board of Directors of the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the
approval of any holder of Right Certificates in order (i) to cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereof in any manner which the Board of Directors of the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Right Certificates (other than
an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, however, that from and after the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event 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 is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and the benefits to, the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person). Without limiting the foregoing, the Company may at any time prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event
amend this Agreement to lower the threshold set forth in Section 1(a) to not less than the greater of (i) the sum of 0.01% and the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company then known by the Company to be Beneficially Owned by any Person (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Stock of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) and (ii) 10.0%. Upon the delivery of such certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is 





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in compliance with the terms of this Section 27,
the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment, and any failure of the Rights Agent to so execute such supplement or amendment shall not affect the validity of the actions taken by the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to this Section 27. Prior to the
occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Rights Agent's consent must be obtained regarding any amendment
or supplement pursuant to this Section 27 which alters the Rights Agent's rights or duties.

 

SECTION 28  Successors.  All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for
the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

 

SECTION 29  Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors
of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board of Directors or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations and computations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination
to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board of Directors 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 any member of the Board of Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights or
to any other person.

 

SECTION 30  Benefits of this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
to give to any person or corporation other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Stock of the Company) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of the Common Stock of the Company).

 

SECTION 31  Severability.  If
any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority
to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from the Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of the Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof
shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.

 





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SECTION 32  Governing Law.  This Agreement, each Right and each Right Certificate issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Ohio and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and to be performed entirely within such State. The courts of the State of Ohio and of the United States of America located in the State of Ohio (the "Ohio Courts") shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, and any Person commencing or otherwise involved in any such litigation shall waive any objection to the laying of venue of such litigation in the Ohio Courts and shall not plead or claim in any Ohio Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Rights Agent may mutually agree to a jurisdiction other than Ohio for any litigation directly between the Company and the Rights Agent arising out of or relating to this
Agreement.

 

SECTION 33  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 34  Descriptive Headings.  Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 35  Force Majeure.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be liable for any delay or failure in performance resulting directly from any act or event beyond its reasonable control and without the fault or gross negligence of the delayed or non-performing party that causes a sudden, substantial or widespread disruption in business activities, including, without limitation, fire, flood, natural disaster or act of God, strike or other industrial disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), embargo, blockade, legal restriction,
riot, insurrection, act of terrorism, disruption in transportation, communications, electric power or other utilities, or other vital infrastructure or any means of disrupting or damaging internet or other computer networks or facilities (each, a "Force Majeure Condition"); provided, that such delayed or non-performing party shall use reasonable commercial efforts to resume performance as soon as practicable. If any Force Majeure Condition occurs, the party delayed or unable to perform shall give prompt written
notice to the other party, stating the nature of the Force Majeure Condition and any action being taken to avoid or minimize its effect.

 

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as an instrument under seal and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 



	 	
ATTEST:

 


Kendle International Inc.

 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	
By: 
	 	 
	 	 	Name 	 
	 	 	Title:  President and Chief Executive Officer	 
	 	 	 	 




 


 



	 	
ATTEST:

 


American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

as Rights Agent

	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	
By: 
	 	 
	 	 	Name 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 
	 	 	 	 




 


 





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Exhibit A

 

FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE

 

Certificate No. R-______ Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER AUGUST 13, 2014 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION IS GIVEN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC., AT $0.01 PER RIGHT, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BETWEEN KENDLE INTERNATIONAL INC. AND AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, AS RIGHTS AGENT, DATED AS OF AUGUST 14, 2009 (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING
PERSON OR AN ASSOCIATE OR AFFILIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.

 

Right Certificate

 

KENDLE INTERNATIONAL 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 Stockholder Rights Agreement dated as of August 14, 2009 (the "Rights Agreement") between
Kendle International Inc. (the "Company") and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on August 13, 2014 at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully paid, non-assessable share of Common Stock no par value (the "Common
Stock") of the Company, at a purchase price of $5.00 per one one-thousandth of a share (the "Exercise Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and the related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of shares that may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share set forth above, are the number and Exercise Price as of August 14, 2009, based on the
Common Stock as constituted at such date.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(b) Event
(as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring 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 or Associate or Affiliate thereof, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of a Person who, after such transfer, became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of
an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Section 11(b) Event.

 





  



  







  





As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number of shares of Common Stock or other securities which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

 

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of such Rights under the specific circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and the designated office of the Rights Agent and are also available upon written request to the Company or the Rights Agent.

 

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing
Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in whole or in part pursuant to Section 11(b) of
the Rights Agreement, the holder shall be entitled to receive this Right Certificate duly marked to indicate that such exercise has occurred as set forth in the Rights Agreement.

 

Under certain circumstances, subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company at its option may exchange all or any part of the Rights evidenced by this Certificate for shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exchange ratio (subject to adjustment) specified in
the Rights Agreement.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Board of Directors of the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors).

 

The Company is not obligated to issue fractional shares of stock upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Common Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts).
If the Company elects not to issue such fractional shares, in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

No holder of this Right Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Common Stock or 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 Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
 


 





  



  







  





This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent.

 

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company as a document under corporate seal.

 


 



	 	
Attested:

 


Kendle International Inc.

 

	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	
By: 
	 	 
	 	 	Name 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 
	 	 	 	 




 


 



	 	
Countersigned:

 


American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	
By: 
	 	 
	 	 	Name 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 
	 	 	 	 




 


 


 

 





  



  







  





[Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate]

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such

holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto __________________ (Please print name and address of transferee) ________________________ this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

Dated: ____________, ___    __________________

 



	 	 	 
	 	Signature
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Signature Guaranteed:	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 




 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

 

(1)           the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate _________are ___________ are not being transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined
in the Rights Agreement); and

 

(2)           after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned ______ did ______ did not directly or indirectly acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.

 

Dated: ___, _____________________

 


 



	 	 	 
	 	Signature
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	 	 
	 





 

 

 

 

 





  



  







  





NOTICE

 

The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 





  



  







  





FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

(To be executed if holder desires to

exercise the Right Certificate)

 

To           Kendle International Inc.:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights)
and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of: Please insert social security or other identifying taxpayer number:

 

 (Please print name and address)

 

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate or if the Rights are being exercised pursuant to Section 11(b) of
the Rights Agreement, a new Right Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to: Please insert social security or other identifying taxpayer number:

 

 (Please print name and address)

 

Dated: _________, ___________________

 

 


 



	 	 	 
	 	Signature
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Signature Guaranteed:	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 




 






  



  







  





CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

 

(1)           the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate _______ are ______ are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person (as such terms are defined in the
Rights Agreement); and

 

(2)           after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned ______ did ______ did not directly or indirectly acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person.

 

Dated: _________, ________________________

 

 


 



	 	 	 
	 	Signature
	 	 	 	 
	
 
	 	 
	 





 

 

 

 

 

 





  



  







  





NOTICE

 

The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.