Document:

PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC.

and

NATIONAL CITY BANK,

as Rights Agent

 

Rights Agreement

 

 

Dated as of March 21, 2006

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                    
                                                  Page

 

 

 

	
            Section 1.
 	
            Certain Definitions
 	
            1
 
	
            Section 2.
 	
            Appointment of Rights Agent
 	
            6
 
	
            Section 3.
 	
            Issue of Rights Certificates
 	
            6
 
	
            Section 4.
 	
            Form of Rights Certificates
 	
            8
 
	
            Section 5.
 	
            Countersignature and Registration
 	
            8
 

	
            Section 6.
 	
            Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates                                            
                            9
 

	
            Section 7.
 	
            Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights
 	
            10
 
	
            Section 8.
 	
            Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates
 	
            12
 
	
            Section 9.
 	
            Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock
 	
            12
 
	
            Section 10.
 	
            Preferred Stock Record Date
 	
            13
 

	
            Section 11.
 	
            Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights      
                      13
 

	
            Section 12.
 	
            Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares
 	
            22
 
	
            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
 	
            27
 
	
            Section 16.
 	
            Agreement of Rights Holders
 	
            27
 
	
            Section 17.
 	
            Rights Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder
 	
            28
 
	
            Section 18.
 	
            Concerning the Rights Agent
 	
            28
 
	
            Section 19.
 	
            Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
 	
            29
 
	
            Section 20.
 	
            Duties of Rights Agent
 	
            29
 
	
            Section 21.
 	
            Change of Rights Agent
 	
            31
 
	
            Section 22.
 	
            Issuance of New Rights Certificates
 	
            32
 
	
            Section 23.
 	
            Redemption and Termination
 	
            32
 
	
            Section 24.
 	
            Exchange
 	
            33
 
	
            Section 25.
 	
            Notice of Certain Events
 	
            34
 
	
            Section 26.
 	
            Notices
 	
            34
 
	
            Section 27.
 	
            Supplements and Amendments
 	
            35
 
	
            Section 28.
 	
            Successors
 	
            36
 
	
            Section 29.
 	
            Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, Etc
 	
            36
 

 

 

	
             
 	
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

                                                                      Page

 

 

 

	
            Section 30.
 	
            Benefits of this Agreement
 	
            37
 
	
            Section 31.
 	
            Severability
 	
            37
 
	
            Section 32.
 	
            Governing Law
 	
            37
 
	
            Section 33.
 	
            Counterparts
 	
            37
 
	
            Section 34.
 	
            Descriptive Headings
 	
            37
 

 

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A -- Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights 

EXHIBIT B -- Rights Certificates 

EXHIBIT C -- Summary of Rights 

 

 

	
             
 	
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Rights Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2006 (the “Agreement”), by and between PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC., an Indiana corporation (the “COMPANY”), and NATIONAL CITY BANK (the “RIGHTS AGENT”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, on March 20, 2006, the Rights Agreement dated as of March 20, 1996 between the Company and Harris N.A., successor by merger to Harris Trust and Savings Bank expired;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company deems it to be in the interest of the Company to adopt a new Rights Agreement; and

WHEREAS, on March 21, 2006 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one Right (as hereinafter defined) payable on March 31, 2006 for each outstanding share of common stock, without par value, of the Company (the “COMMON STOCK”) outstanding on March 31, 2006 (the “RECORD DATE”), and the issuance of one Right for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date and the Separation Date (as hereinafter defined) and one Right for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued upon exercise of stock options granted prior to the Separation Date or under any employee plan or arrangement established prior to the Separation Date, each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, Series A, of the Company having the rights, powers and
preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (the “RIGHTS”).

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

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

(a)          “ACQUIRING PERSON” shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates (as hereinafter defined) and Associates (as hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as hereinafter defined) at any time of 20% or more of the Voting Power of the aggregate of all Voting Stock outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (ii) any or all of Jeffrey L. Gendell, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. and Tontine Capital Management L.L.C. or any of their Affiliates or Associates,
acting individually, with another Person, or as part of the group identified by the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC relating to the Stock Purchase Agreement as first filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, solely for such time and to the extent that such Persons referenced in this clause (ii) are, individually or in the aggregate, the Beneficial Owners at all times of less than 30% of the Voting Power of the aggregate of all Voting Stock outstanding, or (iii) any such 

 

 

Person who has become and is such a Beneficial Owner solely because (A) of a change in the aggregate number of shares of  Voting Stock since the last date on which such Person acquired Beneficial Ownership of any shares of the Voting Stock or (B) it acquired such Beneficial Ownership in the good faith belief that such acquisition would not (1) cause such Beneficial Ownership to be equal to or exceed 20% of the Voting Power of the aggregate of all shares of Voting Stock of the Company (or with respect to the Persons identified in clause (ii) of this Section 1(a), 30%) and such Person relied in good faith in computing the percentage of its Beneficial Ownership on publicly filed reports or documents of the Company that are inaccurate or out-of-date or (2) otherwise cause a Separation Date or a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or Section 13 Event to occur.  Notwithstanding clause (B) of the prior sentence, if any Person
that is not an Acquiring Person due to such clause (B) does not reduce or agree to reduce its percentage of Beneficial Ownership of the Common Stock to less than 20% (or with respect to the Persons identified in clause (ii) of this Section 1(a), 30%) by the Close of Business on the fifth Business Day after notice from the Company (the date on which such notice is first mailed or sent being the first day) that such person’s Beneficial Ownership of the Voting Power of the aggregate of all shares of Voting Stock of the Company then outstanding is equal to or exceeds 20% (or with respect to the Persons identified in clause (ii) of this Section 1(a), 30%) such Person shall, at the end of such five Business Day period, become an Acquiring Person (and such clause (B) shall no longer apply to such Person).  For purposes of this definition, the determination whether any Person acted in “good faith” shall be conclusively determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, acting
by a vote of a majority of the Whole Board.

(b)          “AFFILIATE” and “ASSOCIATE” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act Regulations, as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that no director or officer of the Company shall be deemed an Affiliate or Associate of any other director or officer of the Company solely as a result of his or her being a director or officer of the Company.

(c)          A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own” and to have “Beneficial Ownership” of any securities:

(i)           that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act Regulations as in effect on the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own or to have Beneficial Ownership of, any security if the agreement, arrangement, or understanding to vote such security that would otherwise render such Person the Beneficial Owner of such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in
accordance with, the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations, and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

(ii)          that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or 

 

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understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights), warrants, or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own or to have Beneficial Ownership of securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made in accordance with the Exchange Act Regulations by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding
(except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c)); or

(iii)        that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of such Person) 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 to the extent contemplated by the proviso to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (c)), or disposing of any such securities.

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a Person’s Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding that such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.

(d)          “BUSINESS DAY” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of Indiana or Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(e)          “CLOSE OF BUSINESS” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(f)           “CLOSING PRICE” of any security on any given day shall be the last sale price, regular way, of such security or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, on the principal trading market on which such security is then traded.

(g)          “COMMON STOCK” shall mean the common stock, without par value, of the Company plus, after the Separation Date, the Preferred Stock of the Company, and “COMMON STOCK” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

 

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(h)          “COMMON EQUITY INTEREST” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the class or series of capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power (in relation to any other classes or series of capital stock (or equity interest)) of such other Person. 

(i)           “EXCHANGE ACT” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement, and all references to any rule or regulation of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act shall be, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, to such rule or regulation as was in effect on the date of this Agreement.  

(j)           “EXCHANGE ACT REGULATIONS” shall mean the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

(k)          “EXCHANGE DATE” shall mean the date at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 of this Agreement.

(l)           “PERSON” shall mean any individual, partnership (general or limited), limited liability company, firm, corporation, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group deemed to be a Person under Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

(m)         “PURCHASE PRICE” shall mean with respect to each Right, the price set forth in Section 7(b) of this Agreement.

(n)          “PREFERRED STOCK” shall mean shares of Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, of the Company.

(o)          “PRINCIPAL PARTY” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) of this Agreement.

(p)          “QUALIFIED OFFER” shall mean an acquisition of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a tender offer or an exchange offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the Whole Board who are not officers of the Company and who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, to be (a) at a price which is fair to stockholders and not inadequate (taking into account all factors which such members of the Board deem relevant, including prices which could reasonably be achieved, if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (b) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

(q)          “REDEMPTION DATE” shall mean the time at which the Rights are ordered to be redeemed pursuant to Section 23 of this Agreement.

(r)           “SECTION 11(A)(ii) EVENT” shall mean the event described in Section 11(a)(ii) that triggers the adjustment provided in Section 11(a)(ii).

 

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(s)          “SECTION 13 EVENT” shall mean the event described in clauses (x)(y) or (z) of Section 13(a) of this Agreement.

(t)           “SEPARATION DATE” shall mean the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the Stock Acquisition Date (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of the Whole Board prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person and of which later date the Company will give the Rights Agent prompt written notice) after the date of the commencement of, or first public announcement of the intent to commence, a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan), if upon consummation thereof, such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of shares of Voting Stock representing 30% or more of the total Voting Power of the aggregate of all shares of Voting Stock then outstanding (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights) other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.  

(u)          “STOCK ACQUISITION DATE” shall mean the first date of public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person or otherwise, that an Acquiring Person has become such other than pursuant to a Qualified Offer.  

(v)          “STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT” shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of September 13, 2005, by and between Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. and Mervin D. Lung and Dorothy Lung.

(w)         “SUBSIDIARY” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any other Person of which (1) a majority of the Voting Power of the voting securities or equity interests is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such first-mentioned Person or otherwise controlled by such first-mentioned Person, or (2) an amount of voting securities or equity interests sufficient to elect at least a majority of the directors or equivalent governing body of such other Person is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such first-mentioned Person, or otherwise controlled by such first-mentioned Person.

(x)          “TRADING DAY,” with respect to any security shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

(y)          “TRIGGERING EVENT” shall mean a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13 Event.  

(z)          “VOTING POWER” when used with reference to the Voting Stock of any Person shall mean the number of votes (whether cast in person, by proxy, or by written consent) entitled (1) to be cast generally in the election of directors or members of the governing body of such Person (if such person is a corporation or is managed by or under the direction of a governing body performing functions and having obligations similar to those of a corporate board of directors) or (2) to participate in the management and control of such Person (if such 

 

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Person is not a corporation and is not managed by or under the direction of a governing body performing functions and having obligations similar to those of a corporate board of directors).

(aa)        “VOTING STOCK” when used in reference to any Person, shall mean the outstanding capital stock, equity interest, or other voting securities of such Person, in each case entitling the holder thereof (1) to cast votes, in person or by proxy, or to act by written consent, in the election of directors or members of the governing body of such Person (if such person is a corporation or is managed by or under the direction of a governing body performing functions and having obligations similar to those of a corporate board of directors) or (2) to participate in the management and control of such Person (if such Person is not a corporation and is not managed by or under the direction of a governing body performing functions and having obligations similar to those of a corporate board of directors).

(bb)         “WHOLE BOARD” shall mean the total number of directors which the Company would have if there were no vacancies.

Any determination required by the definitions contained in this Section 1 shall be made by the Board of Directors of the Company in its good faith judgment, which determination shall be final and binding on the Rights Agent.

Section 2.           Appointment of Rights Agent.  The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement, shall prior to the Separation Date also be the holders of the Common Stock) in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment.  The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable and will promptly notify the Rights Agent of any such appointment.  To the extent that any co-Rights Agent takes any action pursuant to this Agreement, such co-Rights Agent will be entitled to all of the rights and protections of, and subject to all of the applicable duties and
obligations imposed upon, the Rights Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any co-Rights Agent.

	
             
 	
            Section 3.
 	
            Issue of Rights Certificates.
 

(a)          Until the Separation Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (ii) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company).

(b)          As soon as practicable after the Separation Date, the Company will prepare and execute, and the Rights Agent will countersign and, at the expense of the Company, send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Separation Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights certificate (the “RIGHTS CERTIFICATE”), evidencing one Right (as adjusted from time to time prior to the Separation Date pursuant to this Agreement) for each share of Common Stock so held.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights 

 

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per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Sections 11, 12 or 13 hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company may make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14 hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights.  As of and after the Separation Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by Rights Certificates.

(c)          As soon as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “SUMMARY OF RIGHTS”), by first-class, postage prepaid mail to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company.  Until the earlier of the Separation Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of any certificate for Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented thereby.

(d)          Certificates for the Common Stock issued after the Record Date but prior the earlier of the Separation Date or the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement between Patrick Industries, Inc.  (the “Company”) and National City Bank, as Rights Agent, dated as of March 21, 2006, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company.  Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate.  The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor.  Under certain circumstances, Rights beneficially owned by Acquiring Persons (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) become null and void and the holder of such Rights (including any subsequent holder) or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) shall not have any right to exercise the Rights.

(e)          After the Separation Date but prior to the Expiration Date, Rights shall, without further action, be issued in connection with the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options granted prior to the Separation Date or pursuant to other benefits under any employee plan or arrangement established prior to the Separation Date; provided, however, that if, pursuant to the terms of any option or other benefit plan, the number of shares issuable thereunder is adjusted after the Separation Date, the number of Rights issuable upon issuance of the shares shall be equal only to the number of shares which would have been issuable prior to the adjustment.  In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Separation Date,
any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock that are no longer outstanding.

 

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            Section 4.
 	
            Form of Rights Certificates.
 

(a)          The Rights Certificates (and the form of election to purchase shares and form of assignment) shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or to conform to usage.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates, whenever issued, shall be dated as of the Record Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase such number of shares of Preferred Stock which shall be set forth therein at the Purchase Price set forth therein, subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement.

(b)          Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant hereto 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 such Associate or Affiliate) that becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) that becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and that receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person (or such
Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing written or oral agreement, arrangement, or understanding regarding either the transferred Rights, shares of Common Stock, or the Company, or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined in good faith to be part of a plan, agreement, arrangement, or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof shall, upon the written direction of the Board of Directors, contain (to the extent feasible), the following legend:

“The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were Beneficially Owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Stockholders Rights Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2006, as it may be amended from time (the “Rights Agreement”), by and between Patrick Industries, Inc. and National City Bank, as Rights Agent).  Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of the Rights Agreement.”

	
             
 	
            Section 5.
 	
            Countersignature and Registration.
 

(a)          The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of its Board of Directors, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature and shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof which shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature.  Each Rights Certificate shall be either manually or by 

 

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facsimile signature countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned.  In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent, and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

(b)          Following the Separation Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office or offices designated as the appropriate place for surrender of Rights Certificate upon exercise or transfer, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder.  Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced by each of the Rights Certificates, and the certificate number and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.

Section 6.           Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.  (a)  Subject to the provisions of Sections 4(b), 7(e) and 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Separation Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof, that have been redeemed pursuant to Section 23 hereof, or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of shares
of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose.  Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and executed the certificate set forth in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the
identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request; whereupon, subject to the provisions of Sections 4, 7 and 14 hereof, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination, or exchange of Rights Certificates.

 

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

Section 7.           Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.  (a) Subject to Sections 7(e), 9(c) and 9(f) hereof, (i) the Close of Business on March 21, 2016 (the “Final Expiration Date”), or (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof or (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the earlier of (i), (ii), and (iii) being the “Expiration Date”), the registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby in whole or in part at any time after the Separation Date (except as provided herein) upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with
the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal corporate trust office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each share of Preferred Stock as to which the Rights are exercised.

(b)          The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $30.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11, 12 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Paragraph (c) below.  Each one one- hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be referred to herein as a “Unit” of Preferred Stock.

(c)          (1) Subject to Section 14 hereof, following the Separation Date, the Company may (at the direction of the Board of Directors) deposit with a corporation 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 federal or state authority (the “Depositary Agent”) certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights and may cause such Depositary Agent to enter into an agreement pursuant to which the Depositary Agent shall issue receipts representing interests in the shares of Preferred Stock so deposited.

 (2)  Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment, with respect to each Right so exercised, of the Purchase Price for the Units of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash, or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased thereby as set forth below and an amount equal to any applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, or evidence satisfactory to the Company of payment of such tax or charge, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Stock certificates representing such number of shares of Preferred Stock (or fractions of shares that are integral multiples of one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) as are to be purchased and the Company will direct its transfer agent to comply with all 

 

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such requests, and/or (B) requisition from the Depositary Agent depositary receipts representing such number of Units of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased and the Company will direct the Depositary Agent to comply with all such requests, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or such depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.  In the event that the Company is obligated to issue Common Stock or other securities of the Company, pay cash, and/or distribute other property pursuant to
Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such Common Stock, other securities, cash, and/or other property is available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement.  The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11 hereof) may be made in cash or by certified or bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company.

 

(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 prepared, executed and delivered to the Rights Agent by the Company, countersigned 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 Sections 6 and 14 hereof.

(e)          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights Beneficially Owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) 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 who receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person (or any such Associate or Affiliate) to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person (or any such Associate
or Affiliate) or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or such Associate or Affiliate) has any continuing written or oral agreement, arrangement, or understanding regarding the transferred Rights, shares of Common Stock or Voting Stock of the Company, or the Company or (B) a transfer that the Board of Directors has determined in good faith to be part of a plan, agreement, arrangement, or understanding that has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall be null and void without any further action, and any holder of such Rights thereafter shall have no rights or preferences whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement, the Rights Certificates, or otherwise (including, without limitation, rights and preferences pursuant to Sections 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, and 24 hereof).  The Company shall use reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b), but neither the
Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of Rights or any other Person as a result of the Company’s failure to make any determination under this Section 7(e) or such Section 4(b) with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates, or transferees.

 

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(f)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Rights Certificate to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to a registered holder upon the occurrence of any purported exercise as set forth in this Section 7 by such registered holder unless such registered holder shall have (i) completed and executed the certificate following the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such exercise, and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) of the Rights represented by such Rights Certificate or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.

Section 8.           Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates.  All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificates purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof.  The Rights Agent shall deliver
all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

	
             
 	
            Section 9.
 	
            Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock.
 

(a)          The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock or its authorized and issued shares of Preferred Stock held in its treasury, free from preemptive rights or any right of first refusal, the number of shares of Preferred Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all Rights from time to time outstanding.

(b)          So long as the shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after the time the Rights become exercisable, all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            The Company shall use its best efforts to:
 

(i)           file, as soon as practicable following the earlier of the Separation Date or as soon as is required by law, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), with respect to the Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form;

(ii)          cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after the filing; and

(iii)         cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earliest of 

 

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(A) the date as of which Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, (B) the Expiration Date and (C) the Redemption Date.

The Company will also take all action necessary to ensure compliance with the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights.  The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statements and permit them to become effective.  Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in
that jurisdiction shall have been obtained and, if applicable, until a registration statement has been declared effective.

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

(e)          The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of Rights.  The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of any certificate for shares of Preferred Stock in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or the issuance or delivery of any certificates for shares of Preferred Stock, upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax
shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s satisfaction that no such tax is due.

Section 10.         Preferred Stock Record Date.  Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares of Preferred Stock is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on
which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are open.

Section 11.        Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Shares or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities covered by each Right, and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

 

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(a)          (i)          In the event the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such
subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares (or fractions thereof) of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date upon exercise of the Rights, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares (or fractions thereof) of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares (or fractions thereof) of
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.  If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

	
             
 	
            (ii)
 	
            Subject to Section 23(a), in the event:
 

	
             
 	
            (A)
 	
            any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person, at any time after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall, other than pursuant to a Qualifying Offer, (1) merge into the Company or otherwise combine with the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger or combination and Company Common Stock shall remain outstanding and unchanged, (2) in one transaction or a series of transactions, transfer any assets to the Company or to any of its Subsidiaries in exchange (in whole or in part) for shares of Company Common Stock, for other equity securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or for securities exercisable for or convertible into shares of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether Company Common Stock or otherwise)
or otherwise obtain from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with or without consideration, any additional shares of such equity securities or securities exercisable for or convertible into such equity securities (other than pursuant to a pro rata distribution to all holders of Company Common Stock), (3) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with 
 

 

- 14 -

 

 

respect to such plan acting in such capacity, assets (including securities) on terms and conditions less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary or plan than those that could have been obtained in arm’s-length negotiations with an unaffiliated third party, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in Section 13(a), (4) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity (other than transactions, if any, consistent with those engaged in, as of the date hereof, by the Company and such Acquiring Person or such Associate or Affiliate), assets (including securities)
having an aggregate fair market value of more than $3,000,000, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in Section 13(a), (5) sell, purchase, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or otherwise acquire or dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, to, from or with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity, any material trademark or material service mark, other than pursuant to a transaction set forth in Section 13(a), (6) receive, or any designee, agent or representative of such Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Acquiring Person shall receive, any compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than compensation for full-time employment as a regular employee at rates in accordance with the Company’s (or its Subsidiaries’) past practices, or (7) receive the
benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a holder of Company Common Stock or as required by law or governmental regulation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantage provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or fiduciary with respect to such plan acting in such capacity; or

	
             
 	
            (B)
 	
            any Person shall become an Acquiring Person, unless the event causing such Person to become an Acquiring Person is either a transaction set forth in Section 13(a) or a Qualifying Offer; or
 

	
             
 	
            (C)
 	
            during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Company, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or any of its 
 

 

- 15 -

 

 

Subsidiaries, other than a Qualifying Offer or a transaction or transactions to which the provisions of Section 13(a) apply (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Acquiring Person), which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is directly or indirectly beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of any Acquiring Person;

then, subject to the cure provisions contained in the definition of Acquiring Person, upon the date of the occurrence of an event described in Section 11(a)(ii)(A), (B) or (C) (a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e)) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then-current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, such number of Units of Preferred Stock as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the then number of Units of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section
11(a)(ii) Event (such product thereafter being, for all purposes of this Agreement other than Section 13, the “Purchase Price”), and (y) dividing that product by 50% of the then-current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per Unit of Preferred Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such Units of Preferred Stock being the “Adjustment Shares”).

 (iii)  In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation but are not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is insufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.  In the event that the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such actions as may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock, then the Company shall issue Common Stock to the extent shares thereof are available in connection with exercise of the Rights and to the extent sufficient shares of Common Stock are not available therefor shall
substitute, for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a number of Units of  Preferred Shares such that the current per share market price of one Unit of  Preferred Stock multiplied by such number of Units is equal (as nearly as possible) to the current per share market price of one share of Common Stock as of the date of issuance of such Units of  Preferred Stock.  In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock, together with the number of Units of  Preferred Stock, that are authorized by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation but are not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is insufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this subparagraph (iii) and subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), then the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of  Preferred Stock for
issuance upon exercise of the Rights.  In the event that the Company shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such actions as may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock and/or Units 

 

- 16 -

 

 

of  Preferred Stock, then the Company, by the vote of a majority of the Whole Board, shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of each such Right (the “Current Value”) over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess being the “Spread”), and (B) with respect to each such Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such Adjustment Shares, upon exercise of such Rights and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock, Units of  Preferred Stock, and/or other equity securities of the Company, each to the extent permitted by the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock that the Board of Directors has deemed to
have the same value as shares of Common Stock (the “Preferred Stock Equivalents”)), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by a majority of the Board of Directors, after receiving advice from a nationally recognized investment banking firm; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty days following the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event (for purposes hereof, the “Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date”), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the
Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, Units of  Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares of Common Stock, Units of  Preferred Stock and/or cash shall have an aggregate value equal to the Spread.  To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken  pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.  For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of a share of Common Stock shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of Common Stock on the Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date, the value of a Unit of  Preferred Stock shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Unit of  Preferred Stock on the Section 11(a)(iii) Trigger Date, and the value of a unit or share, as applicable, of
any Preferred Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such date.

 

 (b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options, or warrants to all holders of any  Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five calendar days after such record date) shares of  Preferred Stock (or shares having substantially the same rights, privileges, and preferences as shares of  Preferred Stock (“Equivalent Preferred Stock”)) or securities convertible into  Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of  Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into  Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of  Preferred Stock on such record date,
then the Purchase Price with respect to the  Preferred Stock to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the sum of the number of shares of  Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of  Preferred Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of  Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be 

 

- 17 -

 

 

the number of shares of  Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of  Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible).  In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration all or part of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.  Shares of  Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event
that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

 (c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of shares of  Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation), evidences of indebtedness, cash other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company, assets (other than a dividend payable in shares of  Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than  Preferred Stock), or subscription rights, options, or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), then, in each case, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the current market price (as determined pursuant
to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of  Preferred Stock on such record date minus the fair market value (as determined in good faith by a majority of the Whole Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes on the Rights Agent and the holder of the Rights) of the cash, assets, or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants distributable in respect of a share of  Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of  Preferred Stock on such record date.  Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price that would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

 (d)(i)    For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “current market price” per share of any security, including the Common Stock or any Common Equity Interest, on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such security for the ten consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, if prior to the expiration of such requisite ten Trading Day period, the issuer announces either (A) a dividend or distribution on such security payable in shares of such security or securities convertible into such shares (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination, or reclassification of such shares, then, following the
ex-dividend date for such dividend or the record date for such subdivision, as the case may be, the “current market price” for such security shall be properly adjusted to take into account such event.  The closing price for each day shall be, if the shares of such security are listed and admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with 

 

- 18 -

 

 

respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which such shares of such security are listed or admitted to trading or, if such shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date such shares are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in such shares selected by a majority of the Board of Directors.  If on any such date no market maker is making a market in such shares, the fair value of such shares on such
date as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors shall be used.  If such shares are not publicly held or not so listed or traded, “current market price” per share shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by a majority of the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.  The term “Trading Day” shall mean, if such shares of such security are listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such shares are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such shares are not so listed or admitted, a Business Day.

 

 (ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “current market price” per share of  Preferred Stock shall be determined in the same manner as set forth above for Common Stock in clause (i) of this Section 11(d) (other than the fourth sentence thereof). If the current market price per share of  Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above or if the  Preferred Stock is not publicly held or listed or traded in a manner described in clause (i) of this Section 11(d), the “current market price” per share of  Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the “current market price” per share of the Common Stock multiplied by 100 (as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, or any similar transaction with respect to Common Stock occurring after the date of this
Agreement.  If neither the Common Stock nor the  Preferred Stock is publicly held or so listed or traded, “current market price” per share of  Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.  For all purposes of this Agreement, the “current market price” of a Unit of  Preferred Stock shall be equal to the “current market price” of one share of  Preferred Stock divided by 100.

 

 (e) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.  All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock or Common Equity Interest or other share or one-millionth of a share of  Preferred Stock, as the case may be.  Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from
the date of the transaction that mandates such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

 

- 19 -

 

 

 

 (f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Sections 11(a)(ii) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than  Preferred Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the  Preferred Stock contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (1), and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13, and 14 hereof with respect to the  Preferred Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

 

 (g)  All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of Units of  Preferred Stock (or other securities or amount of cash or combination thereof) that may be acquired from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

 (h)  Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of Units of  Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one one-hundredth of a Unit) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Units of  Preferred Stock covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.

 

 (i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of Units of  Preferred Stock that may be acquired 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 Units of  Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment.  Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-hundredth of a Right) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price.  The Company shall make a public announcement, and notify the Rights Agent in writing, of its
election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made.  This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten days later than the date of such public announcement.  If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and
upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the 

 

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Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment.  Rights Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued, executed, and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

 

 (j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of Units of  Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per Unit and the number of Units of  Preferred Stock that was expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

 

 (k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the then par value of the number of Units of  Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue such fully paid and non-assessable number of Units of  Preferred Stock at such adjusted Purchase Price.

 

 (l)  In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (and shall notify the Rights Agent in writing of any such election) until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of that number of Units of  Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of Units of  Preferred Stock and shares of other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due
bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) or securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.  

 

 (m)  Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the Separation Date, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the Board of Directors shall determine that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the  Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any shares of  Preferred Stock at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of  Preferred Stock or securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of  Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends, or (v) issuance of rights, options, or warrants referred to in this Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its  Preferred Stock, shall not be taxable to such holders or shall reduce the taxes payable by such holders.

 

 (n)  The Company shall not, at any time after the Separation Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), or (iii) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more 

 

- 21 -

 

 

than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, or sale there are any rights, warrants, or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that 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 Person that constitutes, or would constitute, the “Principal Party” for purposes of Section 13(a) hereof shall have distributed or otherwise transferred to its shareholders or other persons holding an equity interest in such
Person Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates; provided, however, this Section 11(n) shall not affect the ability of any Subsidiary of the Company to consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell or transfer assets or earning power to, any other Subsidiary of the Company.

 

 (o)  After the Separation Date and so long as any Rights shall then be outstanding (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof), the Company shall not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24, and 27 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

 

 (p)  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Separation Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide any outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iii) combine any of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Separation Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter
associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination, or reclassification is effected.  If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under Section 11(a)(ii) and this Section 11(p), the adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be in addition and prior to any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).

Section 12.         Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in 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 and computations accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, 

 

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and with each transfer agent for the  Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Separation Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall have no duty or liability with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any adjustment or any such event unless and until it shall have received such a certificate.

Section 13.         Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power.  (a) at any time after a Stock Acquisition Date, in the event that, directly or indirectly, either (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger, (y) any Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or
merger and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any of its direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with Section 11(o) hereof), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) (any such event described in (x), (y), or (z) being herein referred to as a “Section 13 Event”); then, and in each such case, subject to the last sentence of Section 23(a) proper provision shall be made so
that:

(i) each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Units of  Preferred Stock for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Units of  Preferred Stock, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, and non-assessable shares of Common Equity Interest of the Principal Party (which shares shall not be subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions, or other adverse claims) as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying such then current Purchase Price by the number of Units of  Preferred Stock for which such Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Section
11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such Units of  Preferred Stock for which a Right would be exercisable hereunder but for the occurrence of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event by the Purchase Price that would be in effect hereunder but for such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be the “Purchase Price” for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the then current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per share of the Common Equity Interest of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event;

 

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(ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Section 13 Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(iii) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 hereof shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event;

 

(iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Equity Interest) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be possible, to its shares of Common Equity Interest thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and

 

(v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no further effect following the first occurrence of any Section 13 Event, and the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in this Section 13.

 

	
             
 	
            (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), (A) the Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving entity) that is the issuer of any securities or other equity interests into which shares of Common Stock are converted in such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Equity Interest that has the highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) and (B) if no securities or other equity interests are so issued, the Person (including the Company as successor thereto or as the surviving entity) that is the other constituent party to such merger or consolidation, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person that is a constituent party to such merger or consolidation, the Common Equity Interest of which
has the highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof); 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 largest 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 that has received assets or earning power pursuant to such transaction or transactions, the Common Equity Interest of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof);

 

 

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provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Equity Interest of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (“Registered Common Equity Interest”), and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Equity Interest outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to such other Person; (2) if the Common Equity Interest of such Person is not Registered Common Equity Interest, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person (other than an individual), but is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Equity Interest outstanding, “Principal Party” shall
refer to the ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person; (3) if the Common Equity Interest of such Person is not Registered Common Equity Interest, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of such other Persons has Registered Common Equity Interest outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common Equity Interest having the highest aggregate current market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof); and (4) if the Common Equity Interest of such Person is not Registered Common Equity Interest, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person (one or more of which is a Person other than an individual), and none of such other Persons has Registered Common Equity Interest 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, shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the entity having the greatest net assets.

 

 (c)  The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Equity Interest that have not been issued (or reserved for issuance) or that are held in its treasury to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13, and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that the Principal Party shall use its best efforts to:

 

(i)  (A)  prepare and file on an appropriate form, as soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement, a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Equity Interest that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights, (B) cause such registration statement to remain effective (and to include a prospectus at all times complying with the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and (C) take such action as may be required to ensure that any acquisition of such shares of Common Equity Interest upon the exercise of the Rights complies with any applicable state security or “Blue Sky” laws as soon as practicable following the execution of such agreement;

 

(ii) as soon as practicable after the execution of such agreement, deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for the Principal Party and each of its Affiliates that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act; and

 

 

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(iii) obtain any and all regulatory approvals as may be required with respect to the shares of Common Equity Interest securities that may be acquired upon exercise of the Rights.

 

 (d)  In case the Principal Party that is to be a party to a transaction referred to in this Section 13 has at the time of such transaction, or immediately following such transaction will have, a provision in any of its authorized securities or in its articles of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its affairs, or any other agreements or arrangements, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common Equity Interest of such Principal Party at less than the then current market price per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Equity Interest of such Principal Party at less than such then current market price (other than to holders of Rights
pursuant to this Section 13); (ii) providing for any special payment, tax, or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Equity Interest of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13; or (iii) otherwise eliminating or substantially diminishing the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in 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 cancelled, 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.

 

 (e)  The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or consolidations or sales or other transfers.  In the event that a Section 13 Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Rights that have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).

 

	
             
 	
            Section 14.
 	
            Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
 

(a)          The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.  In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Right as of the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.

(b)          The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock).  Subject to Section 7(c) hereof, fractions of shares of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a Depositary Agent selected by it.  In lieu of fractional 

 

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shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred 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 Current Market Price of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock as of the date of such exercise.

(c)          The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock.  In lieu of fractional shares, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates, at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of one share of Common Stock as of the date of such exercise.

(d)          The holder of a Right by its acceptance thereof expressly waives any 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 vested in the Rights Agent as provided herein are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Separation Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, of the Common Stock) without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his rights pursuant to this Agreement.  Without
limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of any Person subject to this Agreement.

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

(a)          prior to the Separation Date, the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Stock;

(b)          after the Separation Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer;

(c)          subject to Sections 6 and 7, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Date, the associated Common Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock certificate made by anyone other than the Company 

 

- 27 -

 

 

or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and

(d)          notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned.

Section 17.        Rights Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, no holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the shares of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of
meetings or other actions affecting shareholders, or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until and only to the extent that the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

	
             
 	
            Section 18.
 	
            Concerning the Rights Agent.  
 

(a)          The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder.  The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises.
The indemnification provided for hereunder shall survive the expiration of the Rights, the termination of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent.  The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification shall also be paid by the Company.

(b)          The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, 

 

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certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons. 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for any special, indirect or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.

Section 19.        Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.  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 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 of this Agreement.  In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

Section 20.        Duties of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

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

(b)          Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without 

 

- 29 -

 

 

limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent, for any action taken or omitted 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 or willful misconduct.

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

(e)          The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 11 or 13 of this Agreement or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after
actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(f)           The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

(g)          The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for such instructions.

(h)          The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or 

 

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become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.

(i)           The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.  The Rights Agent will not be under any duty or responsibility to ensure compliance with any applicable federal or state securities laws in connection with the issuance, transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates.

(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)          The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person, Affiliate, Associate or Subsidiary) under the Rights Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or determination.

Section 21.         Change of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock by registered or certified mail, and, at the expense of the Company, to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  If the Rights Agent
shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.  Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of the State of Indiana (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 Indiana), in
good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its 

 

- 31 -

 

 

appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.  After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.  Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall
not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

Section 22.        Issuance of New Rights Certificates.  Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Rights Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in the Purchase Price or the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property that may be acquired under the Rights Certificates. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Separation Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise
of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

	
             
 	
            Section 23.
 	
            Redemption and Termination.
 

(a)          The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the tenth day following the Stock Acquisition Date, or (ii) the Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the “REDEMPTION PRICE”); and the Company may, at its option, by action of a majority of the Whole Board, pay the Redemption Price either in shares of Company Common Stock, of the shares of Company Common Stock at the time of redemption) or cash.  Subject to the foregoing, the redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such
time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Whole Board in its sole discretion may establish.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no Rights may be exercised at any time that the Rights are subject to redemption in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

- 32 -

 

 

 

(b)          Promptly upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right as held.  Within 10 days after the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice to all such holders at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or prior to the Separation Date, on the registry books of the Transfer
Agent for the Common Stock.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.  Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.  In any case, failure to give such notice to any particular holder of Rights shall not affect the sufficiency of the notice to other holders of Rights.  

	
             
 	
            Section 24.
 	
            Exchange.
 

(a)          The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Acquiring Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Acquiring Person, becomes the
Beneficial Owner of shares of Voting Stock representing 50% or more of the total Voting Power of the aggregate of all shares of Voting Stock then outstanding.

(b)          Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio.  The Company shall promptly give (i) written notice to the Rights Agent of any such exchange and (ii) public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange.  The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such
Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent.  Any notice 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 for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights that will be exchanged.  Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

(c)          In the event that there are not sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated 

 

- 33 -

 

 

in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.  In the event the Company, after good faith effort, is unable to take all such action as may be necessary to authorize such additional shares of Common Stock, the Company shall substitute Units of Preferred Stock (or equivalent Preferred Stock) for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one Unit of Preferred Stock (or equivalent Preferred Stock) for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, and other similar transactions after the date hereof.

(d)          The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Stock.  In lieu of such fractional shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole share of Common Stock.

	
             
 	
            Section 25.
 	
            Notice of Certain Events.
 

(a)          In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend at a rate not in excess of $1 per share), or (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, or (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), or (iv) to effect any Section 13 Event, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such
case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26, 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, Section 13 Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock whichever shall be the earlier.

(b)          Upon the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13 Event, the Company or Principal Party, as the case may be, shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26, a notice of the occurrence of such event and the consequences thereof to holders of Rights under Sections 11 or 12 of this Agreement, as the case may be.

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 Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid registered or certified mail and shall 

 

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be deemed given upon receipt and addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

Patrick Industries, Inc.

1800 South 14th Street 

P.O.  Box 638

Elkhart, Indiana 46515

Attention: Secretary

Subject to the provisions of Section 21, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sent by registered or certified mail and shall be deemed given upon receipt and addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

National City Bank

Shareholder Services Administration

629 Euclid Avenue, Location 01-3116

Cleveland, OH  44144

	
             
 	
            Attn:
 	
            Pamela Fisher
 

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate 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.  The Company shall deliver a copy of any notice or demand it delivers to the holder of any Rights Certificate to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall deliver a copy of any notice or demand it delivers to the holder of any Rights Certificate to the Company.

Section 27.         Supplements and Amendments.  Subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section 27, the Company, by action of the Board of Directors, may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder, or to make any other provisions with respect to the Rights that the Company may deem necessary or desirable, any such supplement or amendment to be evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Rights Agent; provided, however, that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, this Agreement
shall not be amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than Rights that have become null and void pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof).  Without limiting the foregoing, the Company, by action of the Board of Directors, may at any time prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement (A) to make the provisions of this Agreement inapplicable to a particular transaction by which a Person would otherwise become an Acquiring Person or to otherwise alter the terms and conditions of this Agreement as they may apply with respect to any such transaction; and (B) to lower the thresholds set forth in Section 1(a) and in the definition of Separation Date to not less than the greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of Voting Power represented by the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock then known by the Company to be Beneficially Owned by any Person (other than 

 

- 35 -

 

 

the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or fiduciary holding shares of Voting Stock for, or pursuant to the terms of, any such plan, acting in such capacity), and (ii) 10%; provided, however, no amendment may lower the thresholds set forth in Section 1(a) with respect to any or all of Jeffrey L. Gendell, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. and Tontine Capital Management L.L.C. or any of their Affiliates or Associates, acting individually, with another Person, or as part of the group identified by the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC relating to the Stock Purchase Agreement as first filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Upon delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the
proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment; provided, however, that no supplement or amendment may be made to Sections 18, 19, 20, or 21 hereof or shall otherwise affect the duties or obligations of the Rights Agent without the consent of the Rights Agent.  Prior to the Separation Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Stock.

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, Etc.  (a)  For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of any class or series of Voting Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Voting Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner (or the particular percentage of Voting Power if such shares of Voting Stock represented by shares of Voting Stock Beneficially Owned by such Person), shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the Exchange Act Regulations as in effect on the date hereof.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, 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 of the Company or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power (i) to interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) to make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or to amend this Agreement).  All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors of the Company or any member thereof to any liability to the holders of the
Rights.

(b)          It is understood that the TIDE Committee (as described below) of the Board of Directors shall review and evaluate this Agreement in order to consider whether the maintenance of this Agreement continues to be in the best interests of the Company, its stockholders and other relevant constituencies of the Company at least once every three years, or sooner than that if any Person shall have made a proposal to the Company or its stockholders, or taken any other action that, if effective, could cause such Person to become an Acquiring Person 

 

- 36 -

 

 

hereunder, if a majority of the members of the TIDE Committee shall deem such review and evaluation appropriate after giving due regard to all relevant circumstances.  Following each such review, the TIDE Committee shall communicate its conclusions to the full Board of Directors, including any recommendation in light thereof as to whether this Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed.  The TIDE Committee shall be comprised of members of the Board of Directors who are not officers, employees or Affiliates of the Company and shall be the Nominating, Governance and Review Committee of the Board of Directors (or any successor committee) as long as the members of such committee meet such requirements.

(c)          The TIDE Committee and the Board of Directors, when considering whether this Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed, shall have the power to set their own agenda and to retain at the expense of the Company their choice of legal counsel, investment bankers and other advisors.  The TIDE Committee and the Board of Directors, when considering whether this Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed, shall have the authority to review all information of the Company and to consider any and all factors they deem relevant to an evaluation of whether this Agreement should be modified or the Rights should be redeemed.

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

Section 31.         Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

Section 32.        Governing Law.  This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Indiana and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State, except that the rights, duties and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

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.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

	
            NATIONAL CITY BANK,
 as Rights Agent
 	
            PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC.
 
	
            By:
 	
            By:
 
	
            Name: 
 	
            Name:
 
	
            Title:
   
 	
            Title:
 
	
            Attest:
 	
            Attest:
 
	
            By:
 	
            By:
 
	
            Name:
 	
            Name:
 
	
            Title:
 	
            Title:
 

 

 

- 38 -

 

 

 

Exhibit A 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES

AND

RIGHTS OF PREFERRED STOCK

of

PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC.

Pursuant to Section 23-1-25-2

Business Corporation Law of the State of Indiana

We, the President and Secretary of Patrick Industries, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the Business Corporation Law of the State of Indiana, in accordance with the provisions of Section 23-1-25-2 thereof, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Articles of Incorporation of the said Corporation, the said Board of Directors on February 29, 1996, adopted the following resolution creating a series of 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock designated as "Preferred Stock, Series A":

NOW BE IT RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Directors of this Corporation in accordance with the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation be, and it hereby is, created, and that the designation and amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

SECTION 1.Designation and Amount.  

The shares of such series shall be designated as "Preferred Stock, Series A" (the "Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 100,000.  The Preferred Stock may be issued in fractional amounts that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth.

SECTION 2.Dividends and Distributions.

(A)         Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of preferred stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of common stock, without par value, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Preferred Stock, in an amount per 

 

A-1

 

share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Preferred Stock.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time on or after March 20, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision of combination or consolidation of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B)         The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

(C)         Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.  Accrued but
unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.  Dividends paid on the shares of Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share by share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding.  The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

SECTION 3.Voting Rights.

The holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(A)         Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time on or after March 20, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of 

 

A-2

 

Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(B)         Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.

(C)         Except as set forth herein, holders of Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

SECTION 4.Certain Restrictions.

(A)         Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

(i)           declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred Stock;

(ii)          declare or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii)        redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Preferred Stock; or

(iv)         purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

 

A-3

 

 

(B)         The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

SECTION 5.Reacquired Shares.  

Any shares of Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof.  All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

SECTION 6.Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.  

Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall have received $100.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Preferred
Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Preferred Stock and all other such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time on or after March 20, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

SECTION 7.Consolidation, Merger, etc.  

In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the 

 

A-4

 

case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time on or after March 20, 1996 declare or pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

SECTION 8.No Redemption.

The shares of Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.  The preceding sentence shall not limit the ability of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise deal in such shares of stock to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 9.Amendment.

The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting as a single class.

 

A-5

 

 

Exhibit B

[Form of Rights Certificate]

	
            Certificate No. R-
 	
            Rights
 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER MARCH ??, 2016 OR EARLIER IF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE IS GIVEN.

THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.

[THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A PERSON WHO WAS OR BECAME AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT).  ACCORDINGLY, THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECAME NULL AND VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]

 

RIGHTS CERTIFICATE

PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

This certifies that                                           
                                    or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of March ??, 2006 (the “RIGHTS AGREEMENT”) between Patrick Industries, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “COMPANY”), and National City Bank, as rights agent (the “RIGHTS AGENT”), unless notice of redemption or exchange shall have been previously given by the Company, to purchase from the Company at any time after the Separation Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M.  (Eastern Standard Time) on March ??, 2016 at the principal corporate trust office of the Rights Agent, or at
the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid nonassessable share of the Preferred Stock,  (the “PREFERRED STOCK”), without par value, of the Company, at a purchase price of $30.00 per one one-hundredth share (the “PURCHASE PRICE”) upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed.  The Purchase Price may be paid in cash or by certified bank check or money order payable to the order of the Company.

The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) and the Purchase Price set forth above have been determined as of March ??, 2006, based on the Common Stock of the Company as constituted at such date.  As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, cash or other property which may be 

 

	
             
 	
            B-1
 

 

purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

If the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are or were formerly beneficially owned, on or after the earlier of the Separation Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and the Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate, Associate or direct or indirect transferee of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become null and void and the holder of any such Right (including any subsequent holder) shall not have any right with respect to such Right.

This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates.  Capitalized terms used in this Rights Certificate have the same meanings as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement.  Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the office of the Rights Agent.

This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the principal corporate trust office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock or other property as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered entitled such holder to purchase.  If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth day following the time it becomes public that an Acquiring Person has become such and (ii) the Expiration Date, subject to extension in certain circumstances.

No fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts) are required to be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, but in lieu thereof the Company may elect to make a cash payment, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or to receive dividends or shall be deemed, for any purpose, the holder of Preferred Stock or of any other securities, cash or property which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or this Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to 

 

	
             
 	
            B-2
 

 

receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or to institute, as a holder of Preferred Stock or other securities issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented by this Certificate, any derivative action, or otherwise, until and only to the extent the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

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

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.  Dated as of __________, 20__.

PATRICK INDUSTRIES, INC.

By:                                          
              

Title:                                          
          

ATTEST:

Secretary Countersigned:

By                                          
  

Authorized Signature

 

 

	
             
 	
            B-3
 

 

 

[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificates.)

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

	
            Dated:
 	
            , 20__
 

Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

 

CERTIFICATE 

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(i)           this Rights Certificate o is o is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

(ii)          after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it o did o did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

 

	
            Dated:
 	
            , 20__
 	
            Signature
 

 

 

	
             
 	
            B-4
 

 

 

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

NOTICE

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

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificate issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.

 

 

	
             
 	
            B-5
 

 

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights represented by this Rights Certificate)

To: Patrick Industries, Inc.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Preferred Stock, , or other securities, cash or other property issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares or other securities be issued in the name of, and such cash or other property be paid to:

Please insert social security or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)

 

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the remaining balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

Please insert social security or other identifying number

 

(Please print name and address)

 

 

	
            Dated:
 	
            , 20__
 

Signature

 

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Rights Certificate)

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

 

 

	
             
 	
            B-6
 

 

 

CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

(i)           this Rights Certificate o is o is 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 Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Rights Agreement);

(ii)          after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, it o did o did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.

 

	
            Dated:
 	
            , 20__
 	
            Signature
 

 

 

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

NOTICE 

 

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

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Election is not completed, the Company will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Rights Certificate issued in exchange for this Rights Certificate.

 

	
             
 	
            B-7
 

 

 

Exhibit C

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

PREFERRED STOCK

The Board of Directors of Patrick Industries, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the “COMPANY”), has declared a dividend of a right (a “RIGHT”) for each share of Common Stock, without par value, of the Company (the “COMMON STOCK”).  The dividend is payable to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2006 (the “RECORD DATE”) and with respect to all shares of Common Stock that become outstanding after the Record Date and prior to the earliest of the Separation Date (as defined below), the redemption of the Rights, the exchange of the Rights and the expiration of the Rights.  Except as set forth below and subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement (as defined below), each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of the Company’s Preferred Stock, Series A,
without par value (the “PREFERRED STOCK”), at an exercise price of $30 per Right (the “PURCHASE PRICE”).  The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of March 21, 2006 (the “RIGHTS AGREEMENT”), between the Company and National City Bank, as Rights Agent (the “RIGHTS AGENT”).

The Rights will be evidenced by Common Stock certificates and not separate certificates until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following the date of public disclosure that a person or group, together with persons affiliated or associated with it (an “ACQUIRING PERSON”), has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the voting power of the aggregate of all shares of voting stock of the Company (the “STOCK ACQUISITION DATE”) and (ii) 10 days following commencement or disclosure of an intention to commence a tender offer or exchange offer by a person other than the Company and certain related entities if, upon consummation of the offer, such person or group, together with persons affiliated or associated with it, could acquire beneficial ownership of 30% or more of the total voting power of all shares of voting stock of the
Company (the earlier of such dates being called “SEPARATION DATE”) except in either case pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent directors determine to be fair and not inadequate and to otherwise be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms (a “QUALIFIED OFFER”).  The definition of an Acquiring Person does not include any or all of Jeffrey L. Gendell, Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. and Tontine Capital Management L.L.C. or any of their Affiliates or Associates, acting individually, with another Person, or any group, solely to the extent they individually or in the aggregate, beneficially own less than 30% of the Voting Power of the aggregate of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding.  Acquiring Person also shall not include other than as a result of repurchases of stock by the Company, certain inadvertent actions by stockholders.
Until the Separation Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the transfer of Common Stock will also constitute transfer of the associated Rights.  Following the Separation Date, separate certificates will evidence the Rights.

The Rights will first become exercisable on the Separation Date (unless sooner redeemed or exchanged).  The Rights will expire at the close of business on March ??, 2016 (the 

 

	
             
 	
            C-1
 

 

“EXPIRATION DATE”), unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

The Purchase Price and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, cash or other property issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend or distribution on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights, options, warrants to subscribe for Preferred Stock or securities convertible into Preferred Stock at less than the current market price of the Preferred Stock, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of other securities, cash (excluding regular periodic cash dividends at an annual rate not in excess of 125% of the annualized rate of cash dividends paid during the preceding fiscal year), property, evidences of indebtedness, or assets.

In the event that, other than pursuant to a Qualifying Offer, (i) the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger or combination with an Acquiring Person and shares of Company Common Stock shall remain outstanding, (ii) a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (iii) an Acquiring Person engages in one or more “self-dealing” transactions as set forth in the Rights Agreement, or (iv) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, an event occurs that results in such Acquiring Person’s ownership interest being increased by more than 1% (e.g., by means of a recapitalization) (each such event being a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), then, in each such case, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Units of Preferred Stock (or, in certain circumstances, Company Common Stock, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a
value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.  The exercise price is the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Units of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of a Right prior to the events described in this paragraph.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any affiliate or associate of any Acquiring Person will be null and void.

In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger (other than a merger described in the preceding paragraph) or other business combination transaction and the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) any Person consolidates or merges with the Company and all or part of the Company Common Stock is converted or exchanged for securities, cash or property of any other Person or (iii) 50% or more of the Company’s assets or earning power is sold or transferred, then each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as described above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the ultimate parent of the Acquiring Person having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

The events described in the two paragraphs above are “TRIGGERING EVENTS.”

Any Rights beneficially owned at any time on or after the Separation Date by an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or associate of an Acquiring Person (whether or not such ownership is subsequently transferred) will become null and void upon the occurrence of the 

 

	
             
 	
            C-2
 

 

earlier of the Board of Directors decision to exchange the Rights and a Triggering Event, and any holder of such Rights will have no right to exercise such Rights.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price.  Holders will have no right to receive fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon the exercise of Rights.  In lieu of such fractional shares, an adjustment in cash may be made based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or distributions, subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Separation Date.

At any time prior to the earlier of (i) the closing of business on the tenth day following the time that it becomes public that an Acquiring Person has become such and (ii) the Expiration Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right.  Immediately upon the action of the Company’s Board of Directors electing to redeem the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights thereafter will be to receive the applicable redemption price.

At any time any person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to such time as such person, together with its affiliates becomes the beneficial owner of at least 50% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, the Company may, provided that all necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained, exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which become null and void), in whole or in part, at a ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, subject to adjustment.

Until a Right is exercised, the holder has no rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends or distributions.  The Company may, without the approval of any holder of the Rights, but only if at that time the Board of Directors consists of a majority of disinterested directors, supplement or amend any provision of the Rights Agreement, except the redemption window, the Purchase Price or the redemption price.

Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable.  Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend declared per share of Common Stock, if it is greater.  In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share, but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per share of Common Stock, if it is greater.  In the event of any merger or other business combination in which Common Stock is exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.  These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

 

 

	
             
 	
            C-3
 

 

 

Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right is intended to approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects.  The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon a substantial number of Rights being acquired.  The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors prior to the time a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Common Stock (30% in the case of certain beneficial owners), because until such time, the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $0.01 per Right and the Rights Agreement may be amended.

A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available free of charge from the Company.  This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

	
             
 	
            C-4EX-10.38

                             FINANCIALCONTENT, INC.
                             2004 STOCK OPTION PLAN

         1.       Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.

                  1.1.  Establishment.  The  FinancialContent,  Inc.  2004 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan") is hereby established effective as of April 1, 2004.

                  1.2.  Purpose.  The  purpose  of the  Plan is to  advance  the
interests of the  Participating  Company Group and its stockholders by providing
an incentive to attract,  retain and reward persons performing  services for the
Participating  Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the
growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.

                  1.3. Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until the
earlier of its  termination  by the Board or the date on which all of the shares
of Stock  available  for  issuance  under  the Plan  have  been  issued  and all
restrictions  on such  shares  under  the  terms of the Plan and the  agreements
evidencing  Options  granted  under the Plan have lapsed.  However,  all Options
shall be granted,  if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date
the Plan is  adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is duly  approved  by the
stockholders of the Company.

         2. Definitions and Construction.

                  2.1.  Definitions.  Whenever used herein,  the following terms
shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

                           a.  "Board"  means  the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Company. If one or more Committees
have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, "Board" also means such
Committee(s).

                           b. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

                           c. "Committee"  means the  Compensation  Committee or
other committee of the Board duly
appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by
the Board.  Unless the powers of the Committee have been  specifically  limited,
the  Committee  shall  have  all of the  powers  of the  Board  granted  herein,
including,  without limitation,  the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any
time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by
law.

                           d. "Company" means FinancialContent, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, or any successor
corporation thereto.

                           e.  "Consultant"  means  any  person,   including  an
advisor, engaged by a Participating
Company to render services other than as an Employee or a Director.

                           f.  "Director"  means a member of the Board or of the
board of directors of any other
Participating Company.

<PAGE>

                           g. "Employee" means any person treated as an employee
(including  an officer or a Director  who is also treated as an employee) in the
records of a Participating Company; provided, however, that neither service as a
Director  nor payment of a  director's  fee shall be  sufficient  to  constitute
employment for purposes of the Plan.

                           h. "Exchange  Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

                           i. "Fair Market  Value"  means,  as of any date,  the
value of a share of Stock or other  property as determined by the Board,  in its
sole  discretion,   or  by  the  Company,  in  its  sole  discretion,   if  such
determination  is  expressly  allocated  to the Company  herein,  subject to the
following:

                                    i.  If,  on such  date,  there  is a  public
market for the Stock,  the Fair  Market  Value of a share of Stock  shall be the
closing sale price of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked
prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted  instead)  as quoted on the
Nasdaq National  Market,  the Nasdaq  Small-Cap Market or such other national or
regional  securities  exchange or market system  constituting the primary market
for the Stock,  as reported in the Wall Street  Journal or such other  source as
the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which
the Stock has traded on such securities  exchange or market system,  the date on
which the Fair Market Value shall be established  shall be the last day on which
the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant  date,  or such other  appropriate
day as shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

                                    ii.  If,  on such  date,  there is no public
market for the Stock, the Fair
Market  Value of a share of Stock shall be as  determined  by the Board  without
regard to any restriction  other than a restriction  which,  by its terms,  will
never lapse.

                           j. "Incentive  Stock Option" means an Option intended
to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

                           k.  "Insider"  means an officer or a Director  of the
Company or any other person whose  transactions  in Stock are subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act.

                           l.  "Nonstatutory  Stock  Option" means an Option not
intended to be (as set forth in the Option  Agreement) or which does not qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.

                           m. "Option"  means a right to purchase Stock (subject
to adjustment  as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and  conditions
of the Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option.

                           n.  "Option  Agreement"  means  a  written  agreement
between  the Company and an Optionee  setting  forth the terms,  conditions  and
restrictions  of the Option granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon
the exercise thereof.

                           o. "Optionee" means a person who has been granted one
or more Options.

                           p. "Parent  Corporation"  means any present or future
"parent corporation" of the
Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                           q.  "Participating  Company" means the Company or any
Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation.

                           r. "Participating  Company Group" means, at any point
in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.

                           s. "Rule  16b-3"  means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

                           t. "Stock" means the common stock of the Company,  as
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.

                           u.  "Subsidiary  Corporation"  means any  present  or
future "subsidiary  corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code.

                           v. "Ten  Percent  Owner  Optionee"  means an Optionee
who,  at the time an Option is granted to the  Optionee,  owns stock  possessing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of a Participating  Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the
Code.

                  2.2.  Construction.  Captions and titles  contained herein are
for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or  interpretation  of any
provision of the Plan.  Except when  otherwise  indicated  by the  context,  the
singular  shall include the plural,  the plural shall include the singular,  and
the term "or" shall include the conjunctive as well as the disjunctive.

         3.       Administration.

                  3.1.   Administration   by  the  Board.   The  Plan  shall  be
administered by the Board,  including any duly appointed  Compensation Committee
of the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Option shall
be determined by the Board, and such  determinations  shall be final and binding
upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Option. Any officer of a
Participating  Company  shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company
with respect to any matter, right,  obligation,  determination or election which
is the  responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein,  provided
the  officer  has  apparent  authority  with  respect  to  such  matter,  right,
obligation, determination or election.

                  3.2.  Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to
participation  by  Insiders  in the  Plan,  at any time that any class of equity
security of the  Company is  registered  pursuant to Section 12 of the  Exchange
Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any,
of Rule 16b-3.

                  3.3.  Powers of the Board. In addition to any other powers set
forth in the Plan and  subject to the  provisions  of the Plan,  the Board shall
have the full and final power and authority, in its sole discretion:

                           a. to determine the persons to whom,  and the time or
times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be
subject to each Option;

                           b. to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options;

                           c. to  determine  the Fair Market  Value of shares of
Stock or other property;

                                       3
<PAGE>

                           d.   to   determine   the   terms,   conditions   and
restrictions  applicable to each Option  (which need not be  identical)  and any
shares acquired upon the exercise thereof,  including,  without limitation,  (i)
the  exercise  price of the  Option,  (ii) the  method  of  payment  for  shares
purchased upon the exercise of the Option,  (iii) the method for satisfaction of
any tax  withholding  obligation  arising in connection  with the Option or such
shares,  including by the  withholding or delivery of shares of stock,  (iv) the
timing,  terms and conditions of the  exercisability of the Option, (v) the time
of the expiration of the Option,  (vi) the effect of the Optionee's  termination
of  employment  or service with the  Participating  Company  Group on any of the
foregoing,  and (vii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
the Option or such shares not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

                           e. to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;

                           f. to amend, modify, extend, or renew, or grant a new
Option  in  substitution  for,  any  Option  or to  waive  any  restrictions  or
conditions  applicable  to any Option or any shares  acquired  upon the exercise
thereof;

                           g. to  accelerate,  continue,  extend  or  defer  the
exercisability of any Option,  including with respect to the period following an
Optionee's  termination of employment or service with the Participating  Company
Group;

                           h. to prescribe,  amend or rescind rules,  guidelines
and policies  relating to the Plan, or to adopt  supplements  to, or alternative
versions  of,  the Plan,  including,  without  limitation,  as the  Board  deems
necessary  or desirable  to comply with the laws of, or to  accommodate  the tax
policy or  custom  of,  foreign  jurisdictions  whose  citizens  may be  granted
Options; and

                           i. to correct  any  defect,  supply any  omission  or
reconcile any  inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all
other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any
Option as the Board may deem  advisable to the extent  consistent  with the Plan
and applicable law.

         4. Shares Subject to Plan.

                  4.1. Maximum Number of Shares Issuable.  Subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be  issued  under  the Plan  shall be Two  Million  Seven  Hundred  Thousand
(2,700,000) and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of
Stock or any  combination  thereof.  If any  outstanding  Option  for any reason
expires or is  terminated  or canceled or shares of Stock  acquired,  subject to
repurchase,  upon the exercise of an Option are repurchased by the Company,  the
shares of Stock  allocable to the  unexercised  portion of such Option,  or such
repurchased  shares of Stock,  shall again be available  for issuance  under the
Plan.

                  4.2.  Adjustments  for  Changes in Capital  Structure.  In the
event of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
combination,  reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the
Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares
subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the exercise price per
share of any outstanding  Options.  If a majority of the shares which are of the
same class as the shares that are subject to  outstanding  Options are exchanged
for,  converted  into,  or  otherwise  become  (whether  or not  pursuant  to an
Ownership Change Event, as defined in Section 8.1) shares of another corporation
(the "New Shares"),  the Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to

                                       4
<PAGE>

provide that such Options are  exercisable  for New Shares.  In the event of any
such  amendment,  the number of shares  subject to, and the  exercise  price per
share of, the  outstanding  Options  shall be adjusted  in a fair and  equitable
manner as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  any fractional  share resulting from an adjustment  pursuant to this
Section  4.2  shall  be  rounded  up or down to the  nearest  whole  number,  as
determined by the Board, and in no event may the exercise price of any Option be
decreased to an amount less than the par value,  if any, of the stock subject to
the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section 4.2
shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         5. Eligibility and Open Limitations.

                  5.1. Persons Eligible for Options. Options may be granted only
to  Employees,  Consultants,  and  Directors.  For  purposes  of  the  foregoing
sentence,  "Employees",  "Consultants" and "Directors" shall include prospective
Employees, prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to whom Options are
granted  in  connection  with  written  offers of  employment  or other  service
relationship  with the  Participating  Company  Group.  Eligible  persons may be
granted more than one (1) Option.

                  5.2.  Option  Grant  Restrictions.  Any  person  who is not an
Employee on the  effective  date of the grant of an Option to such person may be
granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a
prospective  Employee  upon the  condition  that such person  become an Employee
shall be deemed granted effective on the date such person commences service with
a Participating  Company,  with an exercise price  determined as of such date in
accordance with Section 6.1.

                  5.3.  Fair  Market  Value  Limitation.  To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value of stock with respect to which options designated as
Incentive Stock Options are exercisable by an Optionee for the first time during
any calendar  year (under all stock option  plans of the  Participating  Company
Group, including the Plan) exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000),  the
portion  of  such  options  which  exceeds  such  amount  shall  be  treated  as
Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 5.3, options designated
as  Incentive  Stock  Options  shall be taken into account in the order in which
they were granted,  and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of
the time the  option  with  respect  to such  stock is  granted.  If the Code is
amended  to  provide  for a  different  limitation  from  that set forth in this
Section 5.3,  such  different  limitation  shall be deemed  incorporated  herein
effective  as of the  date and with  respect  to such  Options  as  required  or
permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive
Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the
limitation  set forth in this Section 5.3,  the  Optionee  may  designate  which
portion of such  Option  the  Optionee  is  exercising.  In the  absence of such
designation,  the Optionee shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock
Option portion of the Option first. Separate certificates representing each such
portion shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option.

         6. Terms and  Conditions  of Options.  Options  shall be  evidenced  by
Option Agreements  specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby,  in
such form as the Board shall from time to time establish.  Option Agreements may
incorporate  all or any of the terms of the Plan by  reference  and shall comply
with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

                  6.1.  Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall
be established in the sole discretion of the Board; provided,  however, that (a)
the  exercise  price per  share  for an  Option  shall be not less than the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the  effective  date of grant of the Option,
and (b) no Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall have an exercise
price per share less than one  hundred  ten  percent  (110%) of the Fair  Market
Value  of a share  of  Stock  on the  effective  date of  grant  of the  Option.

                                       5
<PAGE>

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory  Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the
minimum  exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an
assumption or substitution  for another option in a manner  qualifying under the
provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

                  6.2.  Exercise  Period.  Options shall be  exercisable at such
time or  times,  or upon  such  event or  events,  and  subject  to such  terms,
conditions, performance criteria, and restrictions as shall be determined by the
Board and set forth in the Option  Agreement  evidencing such Option;  provided,
however,  that (a) no Option shall be  exercisable  after the  expiration of ten
(10) years after the  effective  date of grant of such Option,  (b) no Incentive
Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall be exercisable  after
the  expiration  of five (5)  years  after the  effective  date of grant of such
Option,  and  (c) no  Option  granted  to a  prospective  Employee,  prospective
Consultant or prospective  Director may become  exercisable prior to the date on
which such person commences service with a Participating Company.

                  6.3. Payment of Exercise Price.

                           a.  Forms  of  Consideration  Authorized.  Except  as
otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares
of Stock being  purchased  pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash,  by
check,  or cash  equivalent,  (ii) by tender to the  Company  of shares of Stock
owned by the Optionee  having a Fair Market Value (as  determined by the Company
without regard to any restrictions on  transferability  applicable to such stock
by reason of federal or state  securities laws or agreements with an underwriter
for the Company) not less than the exercise  price,  (iii) by the  assignment of
the  proceeds of a sale or loan with  respect to some or all of the shares being
acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through
an exercise  complying with the  provisions of Regulation T as promulgated  from
time to time by the  Board  of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System)  (a
"Cashless Exercise"),  (iv) by the Optionee's promissory note in a form approved
by the Company,  (v) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Board
from time to time to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,  or (vi) by any
combination thereof. The Board may at any time or from time to time, by adoption
of or by  amendment  to the  standard  forms of Option  Agreement  described  in
Section  7, or by other  means,  grant  Options  which do not  permit all of the
foregoing forms of  consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or
which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

                           b. Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an
Option may not be  exercised  by tender to the Company of shares of Stock to the
extent such tender of Stock would  constitute a violation of the  provisions  of
any law,  regulation or agreement  restricting  the  redemption of the Company's
stock. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may not be exercised by
tender to the Company of shares of Stock  unless  such  shares  either have been
owned  by the  Optionee  for  more  than six (6)  months  or were not  acquired,
directly or indirectly, from the Company.

                           c. Cashless  Exercise.  The Company reserves,  at any
and all times,  the right,  in the Company's  sole and absolute  discretion,  to
establish,  decline to approve or terminate  any program or  procedures  for the
exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.

                           d. Payment by Promissory  Note.  No  promissory  note
shall be permitted if the exercise of an Option using a promissory note would be
a violation of any law. Any permitted  promissory note shall be on such terms as
the Board shall  determine  at the time the Option is  granted.  The Board shall
have the  authority to permit or require the  Optionee to secure any  promissory
note used to  exercise  an Option  with the  shares of Stock  acquired  upon the
exercise  of the  Option or with other  collateral  acceptable  to the  Company.

                                       6
<PAGE>

Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if the Company at any time is subject to
the  regulations  promulgated  by the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve
System or any other  governmental  entity  affecting  the extension of credit in
connection with the Company's securities,  any promissory note shall comply with
such applicable regulations, and the Optionee shall pay the unpaid principal and
accrued interest, if any, to the extent necessary to comply with such applicable
regulations.

                  6.4. Tax  Withholding.  The Company shall have the right,  but
not the  obligation,  to  deduct  from the  shares  of Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise of an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of
whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value,  as determined by the Company,
equal to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any,
required by law to be withheld by the  Participating  Company Group with respect
to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise  thereof.  Alternatively
or in  addition,  in its sole  discretion,  the Company  shall have the right to
require the Optionee,  through payroll  withholding,  cash payment or otherwise,
including by means of a Cashless  Exercise,  to make adequate  provision for any
such tax withholding  obligations of the Participating  Company Group arising in
connection with the Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. The
Company  shall  have  no  obligation  to  deliver  shares  of  Stock  until  the
Participating Company Group's tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by
the Optionee.

                  6.5.  Repurchase  Rights.  Shares issued under the Plan may be
subject to a right of first refusal,  one or more repurchase  options,  or other
conditions and  restrictions as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion,
at the time the Option is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at
any time any  repurchase  right it may have,  whether  or not such right is then
exercisable,  to one or more  persons as may be  selected by the  Company.  Upon
request by the Company,  each Optionee  shall  execute any agreement  evidencing
such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and
shall  promptly  present to the  Company any and all  certificates  representing
shares of Stock  acquired  hereunder for the placement on such  certificates  of
appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

         7. Standard Forms of Option Agreement.

                  7.1. Incentive Stock Options. Unless otherwise provided by the
Board at the time the Option is granted,  an Option  designated as an "Incentive
Stock Option" shall comply with and be subject to the terms and  conditions  set
forth in the form of Immediately  Exercisable  Incentive Stock Option  Agreement
adopted by the Board  concurrently  with its adoption of the Plan and as amended
from time to time.

                  7.2. Nonstatutory Stock Options.  Unless otherwise provided by
the  Board at the  time  the  Option  is  granted,  an  Option  designated  as a
"Nonstatutory  Stock  Option"  shall comply with and be subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the form of Immediately  Exercisable  Nonstatutory Stock
Option Agreement adopted by the Board concurrently with its adoption of the Plan
and as amended from time to time.

                  7.3. Standard Term of Options. Except as otherwise provided in
Section  6.2 or by the  Board in the  grant of an  Option,  any  Option  granted
hereunder  shall have a term of ten (10) years from the effective  date of grant
of the Option.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                  7.4.  Authority  to Vary  Terms.  The  Board  shall  have  the
authority  from time to time to vary the terms of any of the  standard  forms of
Option Agreement described in this Section 7 either in connection with the grant
or amendment of an individual  Option or in connection with the authorization of
a new standard form or forms;  provided,  however, that the terms and conditions
of any such new,  revised or amended  standard form or forms of Option Agreement
are not  inconsistent  with the terms of the Plan. Such authority shall include,
but not by way of  limitation,  the  authority  to grant  Options  which are not
immediately exercisable.

         8. Transfer of Control.

                  8.1.     Definitions.

                           a. An  "Ownership  Change  Event"  shall be deemed to
have occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company:

                                    i. the direct or  indirect  sale or exchange
in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company
of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock of the Company;

                                    ii. a merger or  consolidation  in which the
Company is a party;

                                    iii. the sale, exchange,  or transfer of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

                                    iv.  a  liquidation  or  dissolution  of the
Company.

                           b. A "Transfer  of Control"  shall mean an  Ownership
Change Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events  (collectively,  the
"Transaction")  wherein the stockholders of the Company  immediately  before the
Transaction do not retain  immediately  after the Transaction,  in substantially
the same  proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before the Transaction,  direct or indirect beneficial  ownership of
more  than  fifty  percent  (50%)  of the  total  combined  voting  power of the
outstanding  voting stock of the Company or the  corporation or  corporations to
which  the   assets  of  the   Company   were   transferred   (the   "Transferee
Corporation(s)"),  as the case may be. For purposes of the  preceding  sentence,
indirect beneficial  ownership shall include,  without  limitation,  an interest
resulting from ownership of the voting stock of one or more corporations  which,
as  a  result  of  the   Transaction,   own  the   Company  or  the   Transferee
Corporation(s),  as the case may be,  either  directly  or  through  one or more
subsidiary  corporations.  The Board shall have the right to  determine  whether
multiple  sales or  exchanges  of the voting  stock of the  Company or  multiple
Ownership  Change  Events are  related,  and its  determination  shall be final,
binding and conclusive.

                  8.2. Effect of Transfer of Control on Options. In the event of
a Transfer of Control,  the  surviving,  continuing,  successor,  or  purchasing
corporation or parent  corporation  thereof,  as the case may be (the "Acquiring
Corporation"),  may either assume the  Company's  rights and  obligations  under
outstanding  Options  or  substitute  for  outstanding   Options   substantially
equivalent options for the Acquiring  Corporation's  stock. For purposes of this
Section 8.2, an Option  shall be deemed  assumed if,  following  the Transfer of
Control,  the  Option  confers  the right to  purchase,  for each share of Stock
subject  to the  Option  immediately  prior  to the  Transfer  of  Control,  the
consideration  (whether stock,  cash or other securities or property) to which a
holder of a share of Stock on the effective  date of the Transfer of Control was
entitled.  Any  Options  which are  neither  assumed or  substituted  for by the

                                       8
<PAGE>

Acquiring  Corporation in connection  with the Transfer of Control nor exercised
as of the date of the  Transfer  of  Control  shall  terminate  and  cease to be
outstanding effective as of the date of the Transfer of Control. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  shares acquired upon exercise of an Option prior to the Transfer
of Control and any  consideration  received  pursuant to the Transfer of Control
with  respect to such  shares  shall  continue  to be subject to all  applicable
provisions of the Option  Agreement  evidencing  such Option except as otherwise
provided in such Option Agreement.  Furthermore,  notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the  corporation  the stock of which is  subject to the  outstanding  Options
immediately  prior to an Ownership  Change Event described in Section  8.1(a)(i)
constituting  a Transfer of Control is the surviving or  continuing  corporation
and immediately  after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty percent (50%)
of the  total  combined  voting  power of its  voting  stock is held by  another
corporation  or by other  corporations  that are members of an affiliated  group
within  the  meaning  of  Section  1504(a)  of the Code  without  regard  to the
provisions of Section  1504(b) of the Code,  the  outstanding  Options shall not
terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its sole discretion.

         9. Provision of Information. At least annually, copies of the Company's
balance sheet and income  statement for the just completed  fiscal year shall be
made  available  to each  Optionee  and  purchaser  of shares of Stock  upon the
exercise  of an Option.  The  Company  shall not be  required  to  provide  such
information  to persons whose duties in connection  with the Company assure them
access to equivalent information.

         10. Nontransferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Optionee,
an Option shall be exercisable  only by the Optionee or the Optionee's  guardian
or legal  representative.  No Option shall be assignable or  transferable by the
Optionee, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

         11.   Indemnification.   In   addition   to  such   other   rights   of
indemnification  as they  may  have as  members  of the  Board  or  officers  or
employees  of the  Participating  Company  Group,  members  of the Board and any
officers or employees of the  Participating  Company Group to whom  authority to
act for the  Board or the  Company  is  delegated  shall be  indemnified  by the
Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and
necessarily  incurred in  connection  with the  defense of any  action,  suit or
proceeding,  or in connection with any appeal  therein,  to which they or any of
them may be a party by reason of any action  taken or failure to act under or in
connection  with the Plan,  or any right  granted  hereunder,  and  against  all
amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved
by  independent  legal  counsel  selected  by the  Company)  or  paid by them in
satisfaction  of a judgment in any such action,  suit or  proceeding,  except in
relation  to matters as to which it shall be adjudged  in such  action,  suit or
proceeding  that  such  person  is liable  for  gross  negligence,  bad faith or
intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days
after the  institution  of such action,  suit or  proceeding,  such person shall
offer to the Company,  in writing,  the opportunity at its own expense to handle
and defend the same.

         12.  Termination or Amendment of Plan. The Board may terminate or amend
the Plan at any time. However, subject to changes in applicable law, regulations
or rules that would  permit  otherwise,  without the  approval of the  Company's
stockholders,  there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of
shares of Stock that may be issued  under the Plan  (except by  operation of the
provisions  of Section 4.2),  (b) no change in the class of persons  eligible to
receive  Incentive  Stock Options,  and (c) no other  amendment of the Plan that
would require approval of the Company's  stockholders  under any applicable law,
regulation or rule. In any event,  no  termination  or amendment of the Plan may
adversely affect any then outstanding Option or any unexercised portion thereof,
without the consent of the  Optionee,  unless such  termination  or amendment is
required to enable an Option  designated as an Incentive Stock Option to qualify
as an Incentive  Stock Option or is necessary to comply with any applicable law,
regulation or rule.
                                       9
<PAGE>

         13. Stockholder Approval.  The Plan shall become effective when adopted
by the Board,  but no option  granted  under the Plan may be  exercised,  and no
shares  shall be  issued  under  the Plan,  until  the Plan is  approved  by the
Corporation's stockholders.  If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the date of the Board's  adoption of the Plan, then all
options  previously  granted  under  the Plan  shall  terminate  and cease to be
outstanding,  and no further  options  shall be granted  and no shares  shall be
issued under the Plan.  Subject to such limitation,  the Plan  Administrator may
grant  options and issue shares  under the Plan at any time after the  effective
date of the Plan and before the date fixed herein for termination of the Plan.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned  Secretary of the Company certifies
that FinancialContent, Inc. 2004 Stock Option Plan was duly adopted by the Board
on April 1, 2004.

                                  Company: FinancialContent, Inc.

                                  By:  /s/ WILFRED SHAW
                                  -----------------------------------
                                       Secretary

                                       10

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