Document:

Pepsico 2013 10-K EX 10.77

EXHIBIT 10.77

DECEMBER 2013 AMENDMENT TO THE 
PEPSICO PENSION EQUALIZATION PLAN DOCUMENT 

The PepsiCo Pension Equalization Plan (“PEP”) is hereby amended, effective January 1, 2013, unless otherwise provided herein, as follows:

I.

The main plan document for the PEP 409A program is amended as follows:

1.    Section 2.1(b)(2) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(2)    Lump Sums:  To determine the lump sum value of a Pension, a Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension under Section 4.6, or a Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension under Section 4.12, the factors applicable for such purposes under the Salaried Plan shall apply.

2.    A new subsection 2.1(m) is inserted (and the existing subsection 2.1(m) and subsections following such subsection redesignated accordingly) to read in its entirety as follows:

(m)    Eligible Domestic Partner:  Solely with respect to a Participant who was actively employed by or on an Authorized Leave of Absence from a member of the PepsiCo Organization on or after January 1, 2013, Eligible Domestic Partner means: (i) if the Participant, on the earlier of the date of his or her death and his or her Annuity Starting Date, resides in a state that permits same-sex couples to marry or enter into civil unions (or recognizes same-sex marriage or civil unions entered into in another state), the individual with whom the Participant has entered into such a validly recognized relationship which was in effect on the earlier of the date of the Participant’s death and the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date; or (ii) if the Participant resides, on the earlier of the date of his or her death and his or her Annuity Starting Date, in a state that does not permit same-sex couples to marry or enter into civil unions (nor recognizes same-sex marriages or civil unions entered into in another state), the individual with whom the Participant has executed a legally binding domestic partner agreement meeting the requirements set forth in writing by the Company with respect to eligibility for domestic partner benefits which is valid and in effect on such date.  The term “Eligible Domestic Partner” does not include (i) an Eligible Spouse (e.g., if a Participant has a same-sex Eligible Spouse, such Eligible Spouse is not also considered an Eligible Domestic Partner within the meaning of this Plan) or (ii) any individual who is of the opposite sex of the Participant.
3.    Subsection 2.1(n) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
(n)    Eligible Spouse:  The spouse of a Participant to whom the Participant is considered lawfully married for purposes of Federal tax law on the earlier of the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date or the date of the Participant’s death and who, solely for periods before September 16, 2013, is of the opposite sex.

4.    A new subsection 2.1(hh) is hereby inserted (and the existing subsection 2.1(gg) (subsection (hh) as renumbered above) and subsections following such subsection redesignated accordingly) to read in its entirety as follows:

(hh)    Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension:  The Pension available to an Eligible Domestic Partner under the Plan.  The term “Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension” shall be used to refer to the Pension available to an Eligible Domestic Partner under Section 4.12 of this document.

5.    The first sentence of Section 2.1(jj)(1) (as renumbered in accordance with the above) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

For purposes of determining the amount of a Retirement, Vested, Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension, or Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension, the Primary Social Security Amount shall be the estimated monthly amount that may be payable to a Participant commencing at age 65 as an old-age insurance benefit under the provisions of Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended.

6.    The first sentence of Section 3.2 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

A Participant’s entitlement to a Pension or, in the event the Participant dies before commencing a benefit hereunder, either a Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension for his Eligible Spouse or Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension for his Eligible Domestic Partner, shall be determined under Article IV based upon his period of Service.

7.    The first sentence of Section 3.3 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

Subject to the next two sentences, the amount of a Participant’s Pension and a Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension or a Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension shall be based upon the Participant’s period of Credited Service, as determined under Article III of the Salaried Plan.

8.    Section 4.9 is amended to add a new subsection (d) to read in its entirety as follows:

(d)    Distribution of Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension Benefit.  If at the time payments are to commence to an Eligible Domestic Partner under Section 4.12, the Actuarial Equivalent lump sum value of the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension to be paid is equal to or less than the Cashout Limit, the Plan Administrator shall distribute to the Eligible Domestic Partner such Actuarial Equivalent lump sum value of the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension that is subject to Section 409A.

9.    The last paragraph of Section 4.9 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

Any lump sum distributed under this section shall be in lieu of the Pension that otherwise would be distributable to the Participant, Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner hereunder.  The cashout provisions described in subsections (a) through (d) above are intended to be “limited cashout” features within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-3(j)(4)(v), and they shall be interpreted and applied consistently with this regulation.  Accordingly in determining if an applicable dollar limit is satisfied, a Participant’s entire benefit under this Plan that is subject to Section 409A and all benefits subject to Section 409A under all other nonaccount balance plans (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(c)(2)(i)(C)) shall be taken into account (the “accountable benefit”), and a Participant’s entire accountable benefit must be cashed out as of the time in question as a condition to any payout under this Section.  In addition, a cashout under 

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this Section shall not cause an accountable benefit to be paid out before completing any applicable six-month delay (see, e.g., Section 6.6).  No Participant, Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner shall be given a direct or indirect election with respect to whether the Participant’s Vested Pension, the Pre-Retirement Spouse’s 409A Pension or the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension will be cashed out under this section.

10.    A new Section 4.12 is inserted to read in its entirety as follows:

4.12    Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension:  A Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension is payable under this section only in the event the Participant dies prior to his Annuity Starting Date under either the 409A Program or the Pre-409A Program.  Any Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension payable on behalf of a Participant shall commence on the first day of the month following the later of (i) the Participant’s death and, (ii) the date the Participant attains or would have attained age 55.  Subject to Section 4.9, any Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension shall continue monthly for the life of the Eligible Domestic Partner.  

(a)    Active, Disabled and Retired Employees:  A Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension shall be payable under this subsection to a Participant’s Eligible Domestic Partner (if any) who is entitled under the Salaried Plan to the pre-retirement domestic partner’s pension for survivors of active, disabled and retired employees.  The amount (if any) of such Pension shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8 (with the 409A Pension, if any, determined after application of Section 5.6).  

(b)    Vested Employees:  A Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension shall be payable under this subsection to a Participant’s Eligible Domestic Partner (if any) who is entitled under the Salaried Plan to the pre-retirement domestic partner’s pension for survivors of vested terminated Employees.  The amount (if any) of such Pension shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8 (with the 409A Pension, if any, determined after application of Section 5.6).  If, pursuant to this Section 4.12(b), a Participant has Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension coverage in effect for his Eligible Domestic Partner, any Pension calculated for the Participant under Section 5.2(b) shall be reduced for each year such coverage is in effect by the applicable percentage set forth below (based on the Participant’s age at the time the coverage is in effect) with a pro rata reduction for any portion of a year.  No reduction shall be made for coverage in effect within the 180-day period following a Participant’s termination of employment.  

	
		
	Attained Age
	Annual Charge

	Up to 35
	.0%

	35-39
	.075%

	40-44
	.1%

	45-49
	.175%

	50-54
	.3%

	55-59
	.5%

	60-64
	.5%

		
	11.
	Section 5.2(b)(2)(i) and (ii)  is amended to read in its entirety to read as follows:

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(2)    Calculation:  The amount of the PEP Guarantee shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (1) above, subject to the following special rules:

(i)    Surviving Eligible Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s Annuity:  Subject to subparagraph (iii) below and the last sentence of this subparagraph, if the Participant has an Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner, the Participant’s Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner shall be entitled to receive a survivor annuity equal to 50 percent of the Participant’s Annuity under this section, with no corresponding reduction in such Annuity for the Participant.  Annuity payments to a surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner shall begin on the first day of the month coincident with or following the Participant’s death and shall end with the last monthly payment due prior to the Eligible Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s death.  If the Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is more than 10 years younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable under this subparagraph shall be adjusted as provided below.

(A)    For each full year more than 10 but less than 21 that the surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable to such spouse shall be reduced by 0.8 percent.

(B)    For each full year more than 20 that the surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable to such spouse shall be reduced by an additional 0.4 percent.

(ii)    Reductions:  The following reductions shall apply in determining a Participant’s PEP Guarantee.

(A)    If the Participant will receive an Early Retirement Pension, the payment amount shall be reduced by 3/12ths of 1 percent for each month by which the benefit commencement date precedes the date the Participant would attain his Normal Retirement Date.

(B)    If the Participant is entitled to a Vested Pension, the payment amount shall be reduced to the actuarial equivalent of the amount payable at his Normal Retirement Date (if payment commences before such date), and the Section 4.6(b) reductions for any Pre-Retirement Spouse’s coverage and Section 4.12(b) reductions for any Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s coverage shall apply.

(C)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in a form that provides an Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner benefit, continuing for the life of the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, that is greater than that provided under subparagraph (i).  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of the Pension otherwise payable under the foregoing provisions of this section.

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(D)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in a form that provides a survivor annuity for a beneficiary who is not his Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner.  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of a Single Life Annuity for the Participant’s life.

(E)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in an Annuity form that includes inflation protection described in Section 6.2(b).  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of the elected Annuity without such protection.

12.    A new Section 5.8 is inserted to read in its entirety as follows:

5.8    Amount of Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension:  The monthly amount of the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension payable to a surviving Eligible Domestic Partner under Section 4.12 shall be determined under subsection (a) below.

(a)    Calculation:  An Eligible Domestic Partner’s Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension shall be equal to:

(1)    The Eligible Domestic Partner’s Total Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension, reduced by

(2)    Each of the following that applies: 

(i)    The Eligible Domestic Partner’s Salaried Plan Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension, and

(ii)    If the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date occurred with respect to his 409A Pension prior to death, but not with respect to his Pre-409A Pension (or vice versa), the Eligible Domestic Partner’s Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension that would have been payable if the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date for such benefit had not already occurred.

(b)    Definitions:  The following definitions apply for purposes of this section:

(1)    An Eligible Domestic Partner’s “Total Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension” means the greater of:

(i)    amount of the Eligible Domestic Partner’s pre-retirement domestic partner’s pension determined under the terms of the Salaried Plan, but without regard to: (A) the limitations imposed by sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Code (as such limitations are interpreted and applied under the Salaried Plan), and (B) the actuarial adjustment under Section 5.7(d) of Part B of the Salaried Plan, or

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(ii)    The amount (if any) of the Eligible Domestic Partner’s PEP Guarantee Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension determined under subsection (c).

In making this comparison, the benefits in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above shall be calculated as if payable as of what would be the Normal Retirement Date of the Participant related to the Eligible Domestic Partner.

(2)    An “Eligible Domestic Partner’s Salaried Plan Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension” means the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension that would be payable to the Eligible Domestic Partner under the terms of the Salaried Plan; provided that if such Salaried Plan benefit commenced prior to the date of commencement under this Plan, the amount of such pension shall be increased actuarially by the Plan Administrator to the date of commencement under this Plan.

(c)    PEP Guarantee Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension:  An Eligible Domestic Partner’s PEP Guarantee Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension shall be determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) below, whichever is applicable, with reference to the PEP Guarantee (if any) that would have been available to the Participant under Section 5.2.

(1)    Normal Rule:  The Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension payable under this paragraph shall be equal to the amount that would be payable as a survivor annuity, under a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, if the Participant had:

(i)    Separated from Service on the date of death (or, if earlier, his actual Separation from Service);

(ii)    Commenced a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity on the same date payments of the Qualified Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension are to commence; and

(iii)    Died on the day immediately following such commencement.

(2)    Special Rule for Active and Disabled Employees:  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) above, the Pre‐Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension paid on behalf of a Participant described in Section 4.6(a) shall not be less than an amount equal to 25 percent of such Participant’s PEP Guarantee determined under Section 5.2.  For this purpose, Credited Service shall be determined as provided in Section 3.3(d)(2) of the Salaried Plan, and the deceased Participant’s Highest Average Monthly Earnings, Primary Social Security Amount and Covered Compensation shall be determined as of his date of death.  A Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension under this paragraph is not reduced for early commencement.

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Principles similar to those applicable under - (i) Section 5.1(b), and (ii) the last sentence of Section 5.2(b)(2) shall apply in determining the Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s 409A Pension under this section.

13.    The second sentence of the first paragraph of Article VI is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

A Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension or Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension derived from the 409A Program shall be payable as an Annuity for the life of the Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner, as applicable, in all cases, subject to Section 4.9 (cashout distributions).

14.    Subsections 6.1(b) and (c) are amended to read in their entirety as follows:

(b)    409A Vested Pension:  Subject to Section 4.9, Section 6.6 and subsection (c) below, a Participant’s 409A Vested Pension shall be distributed in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) below, unless, in the case of a Participant who is married (as determined under the standards in paragraph 6.1(a)(2), above) or has an Eligible Domestic Partner on his Annuity Starting Date, he elects one of the optional forms of payment distributions in Section 6.2 in accordance with the election procedures in Section 6.3(a):

(1)    Separation Prior to Age 55:  In the case of a Participant who Separates from Service with at least five years of Service prior to attaining age 55, the Participant’s 409A Vested Pension shall be distributed as an Annuity commencing on the first of the month that is coincident with or immediately follows the date he attains age 55, which shall be the Annuity Starting Date of his 409A Vested Pension.  A distribution under this subsection shall be in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity if the Participant is married or as a Single Life Annuity if he is not married; provided that an unmarried Participant who has an Eligible Domestic Partner may elect a 50% Survivor Annuity or 75% Survivor Annuity with his Eligible Domestic Partner as his beneficiary as provided in Section 6.2.  A Participant shall be considered married or to have a domestic partner for purposes of this paragraph if he is married or has an Eligible Domestic Partner on the Annuity Starting Date of his 409A Vested Pension.

(2)    Separation at Ages 55 Through 64:  In the case of a Participant who Separates from Service with at least five years but less than ten years of Service and on or after attaining age 55 but prior to attaining age 65, the Participant's 409A Vested Pension shall be distributed as an Annuity (as provided in paragraph (1) above) commencing on the first of the month that follows his Separation from Service.

(c)    Disability Pension:  The portion of a Participant's 409A Disability Pension representing Pre-Separation Accruals shall be paid on the first day of the month following the later of (i) the Participant's attainment of age 55 and (ii) the Participant's Separation from Service.  The available forms of payment for the portion of a Participant's 409A Disability Pension representing Pre-Separation Accruals shall be those forms available to a Participant who is entitled to a Vested Pension, as set forth in Section 6.2, below (including the different forms available to a married Participant/Participant with a domestic partner versus a single Participant).  The portion of a Participant's 409A Disability Pension 

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representing Post-LTD Accruals shall be paid on the first day of the month following the Participant's attainment of age 65 in a lump sum.

15.    The first paragraph of subsection 6.2(a) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(a)    Basic Forms:  A Participant who is entitled to a Retirement Pension may choose one of the following optional forms of payment by making a valid election in accordance with the election procedures in Section 6.3(a).  A Participant who is entitled to a Vested Pension and who is married on his Annuity Starting Date may choose one of the optional forms of payment available under paragraphs (1), 2(ii) or 2(iii) below with his Eligible Spouse as his beneficiary (and no other optional form of payment available under this subsection (a) shall be permitted to such a Participant).  A Participant who is entitled to a Vested Pension who is not married and has an Eligible Domestic Partner on his Annuity Starting Date may choose one of the optional forms available under paragraphs 2(ii) or 2(iii) below with his Eligible Domestic Partner as his beneficiary (and no other optional forms of payment available under this subsection shall be permitted to such a Participant).  A Participant who is entitled to a Vested Pension and who is not married and does not have an Eligible Domestic Partner on his Annuity Starting Date shall receive a Single Life Annuity.  Each optional annuity is the actuarial equivalent of the Single Life Annuity:

16.    Section 6.3 is amended by adding a new subsection (c) to read as follows:
        
(c)     Determination of Marital Status.  Effective January 1, 2014, in any case in which the form of payment of a Participant’s 409A Pension is determined by his marital status on his Annuity Starting Date, the Plan Administrator shall assume the Participant is unmarried on his Annuity Starting Date unless the Participant provides notice to the Plan prior to his Annuity Starting Date, which is deemed sufficient and satisfactory by the Plan Administrator, that he is married. The Participant shall give such notification to the Plan Administrator when he makes the election described in subsection (a) above or in accordance with such other procedures that are established by the Plan Administrator for this purpose (if any).  Notwithstanding the two prior sentences, the Plan Administrator may adopt rules that provide for a different outcome than specified above.

17.    Subsection 6.4(b) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(b)    Non-Spouse Beneficiaries:  If a Participant’s beneficiary is not his Eligible Spouse, he may not elect: 

(1)    The 100 percent survivor option described in Section 6.2(a)(2)(i) if his Eligible Domestic Partner or other non-spouse beneficiary is more than 10 years younger than he is, or

(2)    The 75 percent survivor option described in Section 6.2(a)(2)(ii) if his Eligible Domestic Partner or other non-spouse beneficiary is more than 19 years younger than he is.

18.    The last two sentences of Section 6.5 are amended to read in their entirety as follows:

If no beneficiary is properly designated and a Participant elects a survivor’s option described in Section 6.2(a)(2), the Participant’s beneficiary shall be his Eligible Spouse or Eligible 

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Domestic Partner, as applicable.  A Participant entitled to a Vested Pension does not have the right or ability to name a beneficiary; if the Participant is permitted under Section 6.2 to elect an optional form of payment, then his beneficiary shall be his Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner, as applicable, on his Annuity Starting Date.

19.    Article X is amended by adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof:

In addition to the above, to the extent that lump sum termination benefits are paid under this Plan in connection with a severed employee’s Special Early Retirement (as defined in Appendix Article D) under a temporary severance program sponsored by the Company, this portion of the Plan shall be a component of the Company’s unfunded severance plan that includes the temporary program of severance benefits in question. As a component of a severance plan, the lump sum termination benefits are welfare benefits, and this portion is part of a “welfare benefit plan” under ERISA section 3(1). This severance plan component shall exist solely (i) for the duration of the temporary severance program in question, and (ii) for the purpose of paying severance benefits. As a portion of an ERISA welfare plan, any such temporary severance benefits hereunder shall not be subject to the reporting requirements for top hat plans under ERISA or any of the ERISA requirements for pension plans.

II.

The documents for the PEP 409A Program and Pre-409A Program are amended to read as follows:

		
	1.
	A new Section 7.5 is inserted (and the existing Sections 7.5 and 7.6 are renumbered accordingly), to read in its entirety as follows:  

7.5    Claimant Must Exhaust the Plan’s Claims Procedures Before Filing in Court.  Before filing any Claim (including a suit or other action) in court or in another tribunal, a Claimant must first fully exhaust all of the Claimant’s rights under the claims procedures of Section 7.3. 

(a)    Upon review by any court or other tribunal, the exhaustion requirement of this Section 7.5 is intended to be interpreted to require exhaustion in as many circumstances as possible (and any steps necessary to clarify or effect this intent may be taken).   

(b)    In any action or consideration of a Claim in court or in another tribunal following exhaustion of the Plan’s claims procedure as described in this Section 7.5, the subsequent action or consideration shall be limited, to the maximum extent permissible, to the record that was before Plan Administrator in the claims procedure.  

(c)    The exhaustion requirement of this Section 7.5 shall apply: (i) regardless of whether other Disputes that are not Claims (including those that a court might consider at the same time) are of greater significance or relevance, (ii) to any rights the Plan Administrator may choose to provide in connection with novel Disputes or in particular situations, (iii) regardless of whether the rights are actual or potential and (iv) even if the Plan Administrator has not previously defined or established specific claims procedures that directly apply to the submission and consideration of such Claim (in which case the Plan Administrator (upon notice of the Claim) shall either promptly 

9

establish such claims procedures or shall apply (or act by analogy to) the claims procedures of Section 7.5 that apply to claims for benefits).

(d)    The Plan Administrator may make special arrangements to consider a Claim on a class basis or to address unusual conflicts concerns, and such minimum arrangements in these respects shall be made as are necessary to maximize the extent to which exhaustion is required.  

(e)    For purposes of this Section 7.5, the following definitions apply.  

(i)    A “Dispute” is any claim, dispute, issue, action or other matter.  
(ii)    A “Claim” is any Dispute that implicates in whole or in part any one or more of the following - 

(A)    The interpretation of the Plan; 

(B)    The interpretation of any term or condition of the Plan;

(C)    The interpretation of the Plan (or any of its terms or conditions) in light of applicable law; 

(D)    Whether the Plan or any term or condition under the Plan has been validly adopted or put into effect; 

(E)    The administration of the Plan; 

(F)    Whether the Plan, in whole or in part, has violated any terms, conditions or requirements of ERISA or other applicable law or regulation, regardless of whether such terms, conditions or requirements are, in whole or in part, incorporated into the terms, conditions or requirements of the Plan;

(G)    A request for Plan benefits or an attempt to recover Plan benefits;

(H)    An assertion that any entity or individual has breached any fiduciary duty; or

(I)    Any Claim that: (i) is deemed similar to any of the foregoing by the Plan Administrator, or (ii) relates to the Plan in any way. 

(iii)    A “Claimant” is any Employee, former Employee, Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary (or the spouse, former spouse, estate, heir or representative of any of the foregoing individuals), or any other individual, person, entity with a relationship to any of the foregoing individuals or the Plan, as well as any group of one or more of the foregoing, who has a Claim.  

In connection with this amendment, the sentence in Section 7.3 that currently reads:  “In addition, any such review shall be conditioned on the claimants having fully exhausted all 

10

rights under this Section” shall be amended by adding at the end thereof “as is more fully explained in Section 7.5.”  Existing Section 7.5 is renumbered Section 7.6, existing Section 7.6 is renumbered Section 7.7, and the reference in the existing Section 7.6 to “Section 7.5” is changed to “Section 7.6.”
III.

Appendix Article PBG 409A is amended as follows:

1.    A new subsection 2.1(h) is inserted (and the existing subsection 2.1(h) and subsections following such subsection redesignated accordingly) to read in its entirety as follows:

(h)    Eligible Domestic Partner:  Solely with respect to a Participant who was actively employed by or on an Authorized Leave of Absence from a member of the PepsiCo Organization on or after January 1, 2013, Eligible Domestic Partner means, in the case of a Participant who on the earlier of his or her date of death and Annuity Starting Date, resides in a state that does not permit same-sex couples to marry, but does permit same-sex couples to enter into civil unions or legally recognized domestic partnerships (or recognizes civil unions or domestic partnerships entered into in another state), the individual with whom the Participant has entered into such a validly recognized relationship which was in effect on the earlier of the date of the Participant’s date of death and Annuity Starting Date; provided that a domestic partnership shall be recognized for this purpose only if the applicable domestic partnership agreement meets the requirements set forth in writing by the Company with respect to eligibility for domestic partner benefits and such agreement is valid and in effect on such date.  The term “Eligible Domestic Partner” does not include an Eligible Spouse (e.g., if a Participant has a same-sex Eligible Spouse, such Eligible Spouse is not also considered an Eligible Domestic Partner within the meaning of this Plan).

2.    The first sentence of subsection 2.1(q)(1) (subsection 2.1(p)(1) prior to the renumbering prescribed above) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

For purposes of determining the amount of a Retirement, Vested, Pre-Retirement Spouse’s Pension, or Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s Pension, the Primary Social Security Amount shall be the estimated monthly amount that may be payable to a Participant commencing at age 65 as an old-age insurance benefit under the provisions of Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended.

3.    Section 4.2(b)(2) is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(2)    Calculation.  The amount of the PEP Guarantee shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (1) above, subject to the following rules:

(i)    Surviving Eligible Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s Annuity:  Subject to subparagraph (iii) below and the last sentence of this subparagraph, if the Participant has an Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner and has commenced receipt of an Annuity under this section, the Participant’s Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner shall be entitled to receive a survivor annuity equal to 50 percent of the Participant’s Annuity under this section, with no corresponding reduction in such Annuity for the Participant.  Annuity payments to a surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner shall begin on the first day of the month coincident with or following the Participant’s death 

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and shall end with the last monthly payment due prior to the Eligible Spouse’s or Eligible Domestic Partner’s death.  If the Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is more than 10 years younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable under this subparagraph shall be adjusted as provided below.

(A)    For each full year more than 10 but less than 21 that the surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable to such spouse shall be reduced by 0.8 percent.

(B)    For each full year more than 20 that the surviving Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner is younger than the Participant, the survivor benefit payable to such spouse shall be reduced by an additional 0.4 percent.

This subparagraph applies only to a Participant who retires on or after his Early Retirement Date.

(ii)    Reductions:  The following reductions shall apply in determining a Participant’s PEP Guarantee.

(A)    If the Participant will receive an Early Retirement Pension, the payment amount shall be reduced by 3/12ths of 1 percent for each month by which the benefit commencement date precedes the date the Participant would attain his Normal Retirement Date.

(B)    If the Participant is entitled to a Vested Pension, the payment amount shall be reduced to the actuarial equivalent of the amount payable at his Normal Retirement Date (if payment commences before such date), and the reductions set forth in the Salaried Plan for any Pre-Retirement Spouse’s coverage or Pre-Retirement Domestic Partner’s coverage shall apply.

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(C)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in a form that provides an Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner benefit, continuing for the life of the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, that is greater than that provided under subparagraph (i).  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of the Pension otherwise payable under the foregoing provisions of this section.

(D)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in a form that provides a survivor annuity for a beneficiary who is not his Eligible Spouse or Eligible Domestic Partner.  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of a Single Life Annuity for the Participant’s life.

(E)    This clause applies if the Participant will receive his Pension in an Annuity form that includes inflation protection described in Section 6.2(b).  In this instance, the Participant’s Pension under this section shall be reduced so that the total value of the benefit payable on the Participant’s behalf is the actuarial equivalent of the elected Annuity without such protection.

4.    The last paragraph of Section 5.1 is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

Payment of any death benefit of a Participant who dies before his Annuity Starting Date under the Plan shall be made to the persons and in the proportions to which any death benefit under the Salaried Plan is or would be paid (including to a Participant’s Eligible Domestic Partner to whom pre-retirement death benefits are payable under the Salaried Plan, if any, with respect to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2013). 

IV.

Corrections to the Plan document necessary to carry forth the above amendments, including corrections to cross-references affected by these amendments, shall be made as necessary.

[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

13

PEPSICO, INC.

By:  /s/ Cynthia M. Trudell
Cynthia M. Trudell
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Chief Personnel Officer

Date  December 18, 2013

APPROVED:

By:   /s/ Christine Griff
         Christine Griff
Vice President, Tax Counsel

Date December 12, 2013

APPROVED:

By:  /s/ Stacy DeWalt Grindal
Stacy DeWalt Grindal
Senior Legal Director, 
Employee Benefits Counsel

Date  December 12, 2013

14rightsagreement.htm

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2014, between, ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., an Arizona corporation (the “Company"), and LAW OFFICE OF STEVEN P. OMAN, P.C., an Arizona professional corporation (the “Rights Agent”).

On February 13, 2014 (the "Rights Declaration Date”), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a distribution of one Preferred Share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding as of the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on June 30, 2014 (the "Record Date"), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement), having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the form of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earlier of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined), and in certain circumstances after the Distribution Date.

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

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

(a)           "Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 25% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or any Person who becomes the Beneficial Owner of 25% ,or more of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person either (i) as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 25% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 25% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person; or (ii) if within eight days after such Person would otherwise become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this clause (ii)), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did so inadvertently and within two days after such notification, such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 25% of the outstanding Common Shares; or (iii) by reason of such Person being the Beneficial Owner of 25% or more of the outstanding Common Shares as of the date hereof; provided, however, that any such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person if, after the date hereof; at any time while such Person is the Beneficial Owner of 25% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares, such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any Common Shares not beneficially owned by such Person on the date hereof, other than in a transaction approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office.

  

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(b)           "Affiliate” and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in Rule 125-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(c)           A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to "beneficially own" any securities:

(i)           which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and  Rule 13d-3 thereunder (or any comparable or successor law or regulation);

(ii)           which 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 understanding (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 Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed pursuant to this Section l(c)(ii)(A) the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, (1) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (2) securities which a Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates may be deemed to have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between the Company and such Person (or one or more of its Affiliates or Associates) if such agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to there being an Acquiring Person; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however. that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this Section 1(c)(ii)(B) if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations of the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

(iii)           which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) (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 Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company; provided, however, that in no case shall an officer or director of the Company be deemed (x) the Beneficial Owner of any securities beneficially owned by another officer or director of the Company solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors of the Company or (y) the Beneficial Owner of securities held of record by the trustee of any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for the benefit of any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, other than the officer or director, by reason of any influence that such officer or director may have over the voting of the securities held in the plan.

  

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(d)           "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in Phoenix, Arizona 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., Phoenix, Arizona time, on such date; provided. however, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Phoenix, Arizona time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(f)            "Common Shares" when used with reference to the Company shall mean the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company and shares of the Preferred Stock of the Company which is convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company (on an as converted basis). "Common Shares" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the Capital Stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

(g)           "Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of Directors of the Company, while a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and who was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, while a member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's nomination for election or election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

(h)           "Distribution Date" shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth day after the Shares Acquisition Date (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office at any time within 30 days after the Shares Acquisition Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth day (or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if; assuming the successful consummation thereof; such Person would be the Beneficial Owner of 25% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

  

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(i)           "Equivalent Shares" shall mean Preferred Shares and any other class or series of capital stock of the Company which is entitled to participate in dividends and other distributions, including distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, on a proportional basis with the Common Shares. In calculating the number of any class or series of Equivalent Shares for purposes of Section 11 of this Rights Agreement, the number of shares, or fractions of a share, of such class or series of capital stock that is entitled to the same dividend or distribution as a whole Common Share shall be deemed to be one share.

(j)           “Expiration Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the time at which the Board of Directors orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in Section 24 hereof or (iv) the consummation of a transaction contemplated by Section 13(d) hereof

(k)           "Final Expiration Date" shall mean June 30, 2024.

(l)           "Permitted Offer" shall mean a tender offer for all outstanding Common Shares made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, provided. however. that such tender offer occurs at a time when Continuing Directors are in office and a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office has determined that the offer is both adequate and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders (taking into account all factors that such Continuing Directors deem relevant, including without limitation prices that could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value.)

(m)           "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

(n)           "Preferred Shares" shall mean the shares of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company.

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

(p)           "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

(q)           "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Board of Directors of the Company orders redemption of the Rights as provided in Section 23 hereof.

 

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

(s)           "Rights Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals at the beginning of this Agreement.

 

  

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(t)           "Section 13 Event" shall mean any event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a) hereof.

(u)           “Shares Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for the purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such; provided that, if such Person is determined not to have become an Acquiring Person pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof, then no Shares Acquisition Date shall be deemed to have occurred.

(v)           "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which an amount of voting securities sufficient to elect a majority of the directors or Persons having similar authority of such corporation or other entity is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or any corporation or other entity otherwise controlled by such Person.

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

(x)           "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.

(y)           A "Triggering Event" shall be deemed to have occurred upon any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such Plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becoming an Acquiring Person after the date hereof.

Section 2.   Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who, in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also be the holders of the Common Shares) 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 Agent as it may deem necessary or desirable.

Section 3.                      Issuance of Rights Certificates.

(a)           Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof by the certificates for Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates shall also be deemed to be Rights Certificates) and not by separate Rights Certificates and (ii) the right to receive Rights Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, send) by first-class, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Rights Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Rights Certificate"), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per Common Share has been made pursuant to Section 1l(a)(i), Section 11(i) or Section 11(p) hereof, then at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall make the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 14(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates and may be transferred by the transfer of the Rights Certificates as permitted hereby, separately and apart from any transfer of one or more Common Shares, and the holders of such Rights Certificates are listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for the Rights shall be the record holders thereof.

  

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(b)           The Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), to the holders of its Common Shares when the  Company sends its next Annual Report to its shareholders following the date hereof.

(c)           Unless the Board of Directors by resolution adopted at or before the time of the issuance (including pursuant to the exercise of Rights under the Company's benefit plans) of any Common Shares specifies to the contrary, Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares that are issued after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such Common Shares shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights.  In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are no longer outstanding.

Section 4.                      Form of Rights Certificates

(a)           The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Common Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Record Date (or in the case of Rights issued with respect to Common Shares issued by the Company after the Record Date, as of the date of issuance of such Common Shares) and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share being hereinafter referred to as the “Purchase Price" and the aggregate exercise price of all Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of one Right being hereinafter referred to as the "Total Exercise Price”), but the number and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

  

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(b)           Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 hereof that represents Rights beneficially owned by: (i) an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any 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 receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom such Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of Section 7(e) hereof, and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11 hereof upon transfer, exchange, replacement or adjustment of any other Rights Certificate referred to in this sentence, shall contain (to the extent feasible) the following legend:

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

Section 5.                      Countersignature and Registration.

(a)           The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal (if any) or a facsimile thereof. The Rights Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless 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.

  

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(b)           Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office designated for such purposes, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.

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 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or, following a Triggering Event, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Sections 7(e), 14 and 24 hereof, countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Rights Certificates.

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

Section 7.   Exercise of Rights: Purchase Price. Expiration Date of Rights.

(a)           Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised, at or prior to the Expiration Date.

  

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(b)           The Purchase Price for each one-hundredth of a Preferred Share issuable pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $25.00 and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

(c)           Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or other securities or property, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof in cash, or by certified check or cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent of the Preferred Shares) a certificate or certificates for the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent of depositary receipts representing such number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depositary receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate. The payment of the Purchase Price (as such amount may be reduced (including to zero) pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) hereof) may be made in cash or by certified bank check or bank draft payable to the order of the Company. In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate.

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

  

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(e)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event or a Section 13 Event, any Rights beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee after the Acquiring Person becomes such (a "Post Transferee”), (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e) (a “Prior Transferee") or (iv) any subsequent transferee receiving transferred Rights from a Post Transferee or a Prior Transferee, either directly or through one or more intermediate transferees, shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) hereof are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or to any other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of such Acquiring Person's Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.

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

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

  

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Section 9.   Reservation and Availability of Preferred Shares.

(a)           The Company covenants and agrees that it will use its best efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available out of and to the extent of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock not reserved for another purpose (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock and/or other securities), the number of Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of the Triggering Event, Common Stock and/or other securities) that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

(b)           If the Company shall hereafter list any of its Preferred Shares on a national securities exchange, then so long as the Preferred Shares (and, following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) issuable and deliverable upon exercise of the Rights may be listed on a national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable (but only to the extent that it is reasonably likely that the Rights will be exercised), all shares reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

(c)           The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Triggering Event in which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all dines meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities and (B) the date of expiration of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating, and notify the Rights Agent, that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement and notification to the Rights Agent at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction, unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall have been obtained, or an exemption therefrom shall be available, and until a registration statement has been declared effective.

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

  

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(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 original issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates or of any Preferred Shares 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 certificates of depositary receipts for the Preferred Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Rights until any 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 Shares Record Date. Each person in whose name any certificate for a number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of Preferred Shares 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 multiplied by the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share with respect to which the Rights have been exercised (and any applicable transfer taxes, was made; provided, however that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Shares 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 Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

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

(a)   (i)   In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Common Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Common Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e) hereof; (1) each of the Rights outstanding at the time of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted to that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of a Right) equal to a fraction (the "Exchange Ratio"), the numerator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Common Shares outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such time, and the number of Rights that shall thereafter be issued with respect to each Common Share or share of such other capital stock that shall become outstanding thereafter prior to the Distribution Date shall be equal to the total number of outstanding Rights immediately after such event (as adjusted pursuant to this cause (1)) divided by the total number of outstanding Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock immediately after such event (subject to further adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement); (2) 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 shall be adjusted so that the Purchase Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such time by the Exchange Ratio; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event, but, in the event of a reclassification, the kind of shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right immediately after such reclassification shall be adjusted to be the kind of shares of such other capital stock issued in such reclassification, rather than Common Shares. If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 1l(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 1l(a)(ii) hereof.

  

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(ii)           Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event a Triggering Event shall have occurred, then promptly following such Triggering Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) hereof, shall thereafter have the right to receive for each Right, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then current Total Exercise Price, in lieu of a number of one- hundredths of a Preferred Share, such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one- hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable (or would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred) immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event, and dividing that product by 50% of the current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) for Common Shares on the date of occurrence of the Triggering Event (such number of shares being hereinafter referred to as the "Adjustment Shares").

 

(iii)  The right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person through an acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer.

(iv)  In lieu of issuing Common Shares in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the Company may, if the Board of Directors determines that such action is necessary or appropriate and not contrary to the interest of holders of Rights (and, in the event that the number of Common Shares which are authorized by the Company's Articles of Incorporation but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights are not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights, or if any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance has not been obtained by the Company, the Company shall): (A) determine the excess of (I) the value of the Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread") and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such Common Shares, upon exercise of the Rights, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or units of shares of any series of Preferred Stock which the Board of Directors of the Company has deemed to have the same value as Common Shares (such shares or units of shares of Preferred Stock are herein called “common stock equivalents")), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, (4) debt securities of the Company, except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, (5) other assets or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Triggering Event and (y) the date on which the Company's right of redemption pursuant to Section 23(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the "Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent available), except to the extent that the Company has not obtained any necessary stockholder or regulatory approval for such issuance, and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights or that any necessary regulatory approval for such issuance will be obtained, the thirty (30) day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than ninety (90) days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares or take action to obtain such regulatory approval (such period, as it may be extended, the "Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares, to take any action to obtain any required regulatory approval and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iv), the value of any "common stock equivalent" shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Shares on such date.

  

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(b)           In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Common Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares entitling such holders (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares or Equivalent Shares or securities convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent Shares at a price per share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Common Shares or Equivalent Shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Common Shares or Equivalent Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) on such record date, then, in each such 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 number of Common Shares and Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such current market price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of additional Common Shares or Equivalent Shares (if any) outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional Common Shares or Equivalent Shares, as the case may be, 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 in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Common Shares and Equivalent Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall to be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation.  Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(c)           In case the Company shall, at any time after the date of this Agreement, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Common Shares or of any class or series of Equivalent Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend, if any, or a dividend payable in Common Shares) or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), then in each such 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) of a Common Share or an Equivalent Share on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a Common Share or Equivalent Share, as the case may be, and the denominator of which shall be such current market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of a Common Share or Equivalent Share 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 which would have been in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

  

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(d)           For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iv) hereof, the "current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose of this Section 11(d)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11 (a)(iv) hereof; the "current per share market price" of any Security on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (i) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares or (ii) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security, and prior to the expiration of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Day or ten (10) Trading Day period, after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last sale price or, if such last sale price is not reported, 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 Quotations Market ("Nasdaq") or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no market maker is making a market in the Common Shares, the fair value of such shares on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day. If the Common Shares are not publicly held or so listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be conclusive for all purposes.

  

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(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 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest ten-thousandth of a Common Share or other share or one hundred-thousandth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.

(f)           If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) or 13(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock other than Preferred Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Right and if required, 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 Common Shares contained in Sections 11(a), (b), (c), (e), (h), (i), (1), (k), (1) and (m), and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 with respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other shares.

(g)           All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(h)   Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a result of the calculations made in Section 11 (b), 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 Preferred Shares (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a share) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of Preferred Shares 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 as a result of the calculations made in Section 11(b) to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Rights Certificates have been issued, shall be at least ten (10) days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof; if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed and 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.

  

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(j)           Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

(k)           Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below the par or stated value, if any, of the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable shares such number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share 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 until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional shares (fractional or otherwise) upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m)           Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustment expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred or Common Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred or Common Shares at less than the current market price, (iii) issuance wholly for cash or Preferred or Common Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred or Common Shares, (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 or Common Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

  

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(n)           The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, effect or permit to occur any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event, if (i) at the time or immediately after such Triggering Event or Section 13 Event there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (ii) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such Section 13 Event, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(b) hereof shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

(o)           The Company covenants and agrees that, after the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Sections 23, 24 or 27 hereof, take (or permit to be taken) 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 the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares (by reverse stock split or otherwise) into a smaller number of Preferred Shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, in each such event, except as otherwise provided in this Section 11 and Section 7(e) hereof; (1) each of the Rights outstanding at the time of the record date for such dividend or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted to that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of a Right) equal to a fraction (the "Exchange Fraction"), the numerator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares or shares of capital stock issued in such reclassification of the Preferred Shares outstanding immediately following such time and the denominator of which shall be the total number of Preferred Shares outstanding immediately prior to such time, and the number of Rights that shall thereafter be issued with respect to each Common Share or share of other capital stock that shall be issued in a reclassification of the Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date shall be equal to the total number of outstanding Rights immediately after such event (as adjusted pursuant to this clause (1)) divided by the total number of outstanding Common Shares or shares of such other capital stock immediately after such event (subject to further adjustment pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement); (2) 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 shall be adjusted so that the Purchase Price thereafter shall equal the result obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such time by the Exchange Fraction; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of such Right; and (3) the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share or share of such other capital stock issuable upon the exercise of each Right shall remain unchanged immediately after such event but, in the event of a reclassification, the kind of shares issuable upon the exercise of each Right immediately after such reclassification shall be adjusted to be the kind of shares of such other capital stock issued in such reclassification, rather than Preferred Shares.

  

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Section 12.  Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 26 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or give such notice shall not affect the validity of such adjustment or the force or effect of the requirement for such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment contained therein and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

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

(a)           In the event that, following the Shares Acquisition Date, directly or indirectly:

(i)           the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company or which complies with Section 11(o) hereof);

(ii)           any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o) hereof) shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger; or

(iii)           the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in one or more transactions, each of which complies with Section 11(0) hereof),

then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that

  

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a.           each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), free of any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event (or, if a Triggering Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, multiplying the number of such one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Triggering Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence) and (2) dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Section 13 Event, shall be referred to as the "Total Exercise Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the current per share market price (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of the Common Shares of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Section 13 Event;

b.           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;

c.           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;

d.           such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon exercise of the Rights.

(b)           "Principal Party" shall mean, in the case of any transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a), the Person or Acquiring Person referred to therein or such Person's or Acquiring Person's successor, including, if applicable, the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, provided, however, that in any such case, (i) if such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person, "Principal Patty" shall refer to such other Person and (ii) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the Common Shares having the greatest aggregate value, and provided, further, that for purposes of transactions described in clause (iii) hereof, “Principal Party" shall refer to that Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions.

(c)           If, for any reason, the Rights cannot be exercised for Common Shares of such Principal Party as provided in Section 13(a), then each holder of Rights shall have the right to exchange its Rights for cash from such Principal Party in an amount equal to the number of Common Shares that it would otherwise be entitled to purchase times 50% of the current per share market price, as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof, of such Common Shares of such Principal Party. If, for any reason, the foregoing formulation cannot be applied to determine the cash amount into which the Rights are exchangeable, then the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms, and based upon the total value of the Company, shall determine such amount reasonably and with good faith to the holders of Rights. Any such determination shall be final and binding on the Rights Agent.

  

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(d)           Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction in clauses (i) and (ii) or Section 13(a) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a Permitted Offer (or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons); (ii) the price per share of Common Shares offered in such transaction is not less than the price per share of Common Shares paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such Permitted Offer; and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same form as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such Permitted Offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(d), all Rights hereunder shall expire.

(e)           The Company shall not consummate any Section 13 Event unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized Common Shares that have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such Section13 Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with Sections 13(a) and (b) hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, that there are no rights, warrants, instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which, as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights and that such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal Party under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Section 13 Event, such Principal Party will:

(i)           prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Expiration Date, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws;

(ii)           use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange or meet the eligibility requirements for quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap or Nasdaq National Market; and

(iii)           deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such Principal Party which comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.

  

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In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised at the time of a transaction described in this Section 13, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter be exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a) (without taking into account any prior adjustment required by Section 11(a)(ii)).

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

Section 14.  Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

(a)           The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable, as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof.

(b)           The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). In lieu of fractional Preferred Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a Common Share. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(c)           The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right expressly waives his or her right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right.

Section 15.                      Rights of Action.  All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his or her own behalf and for his or her own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his or her right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performances of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.

  

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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 will every other holder of a Right that:

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

(b)           after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer and with the appropriate forms and certificates fully executed; and

(c)           subject to Sections 6(a) and 7(f) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

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

Section 18.                      Concerning the Rights Agent.

  

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(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 other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises.

(b)           The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for, or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with, its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate for the Common Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.

Section 19.                      Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.

(a)           Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided. however, that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such Successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of 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 Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.

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

 

  

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

(a)           The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Company), and the opinion or advice 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 or advice.

(b)           Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of “current per share market price") be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

(c)           The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

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

(e)           The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any 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 the Rights Certificate; not shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights for any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidences by Rights Certificates after receipt by the Rights Agent of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 describing such change or adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make and representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

  

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(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 reasonable 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 anyone of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Rights Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date and officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such offer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

(h)           The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become 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 the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

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

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

(k)           If' with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has either not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 and/or 2 thereof <<?>>, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

  

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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 ten (10) days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon ten (10) 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 Preferred Shares and the Common Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificate by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning of incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his on her 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 any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stockholder services powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. 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 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 Preferred Shares and the Common Shares, 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.

In addition to the foregoing, the current Rights Agent may assign its position, duties and rights to any of the Company’s transfer agents of the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares of the Company, effective upon acceptance of the same by such transfer agent.

Section 22.                      Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of Common Shares following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to Common Shares so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of the convertible subordinated debentures of the Company outstanding at the date hereof or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued and this sentence shall be null and void ab initio if, and to the extent that, such issuance or this sentence would create a significant risk of or result in material adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued or would create a significant risk of or result in such options or employee plans or arrangements; failing to qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment 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.

  

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Section 23.  Redemption.

(a)           The Company may, at its option and with the approval of the Board of Directors, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of Continuing Directors then in office and publicly announced by the Company or (ii) the Final Expiration Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being herein referred to as the "Redemption Price") and the Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price either in Common Shares (based on the current per share market price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) at the time of redemption) or cash; provided, however, if the Board of Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, then there must be Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors.

(b)           Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Within ten (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 addressed as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any rights at any time in any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the Distribution Date.

  

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Section 24.                      Exchange

(a)           Subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations, and subject to subsection (c) below, the Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the Continuing Directors, at any time and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share 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 "Ratio of Exchange"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.

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

(c)           In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with Section 24(a), the Company shall either take such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights or alternatively, at the option of a majority of the Board of Directors, with respect to each Right (i) pay cash in an amount equal to the Current Value (as hereinafter defined), in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange therefore, or (ii) issue debt or equity securities or a combination thereof, having a value equal to the Current Value, in lieu of issuing Common Shares in exchange for each such Right, where the value of such securities shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors by majority vote of the Board of Directors, or (iii) deliver any combination of cash, property, Common Shares and/or other securities having a value equal to the Current Value in exchange for each Right. For purposes of this Section 24(c) only, the Current Value shall mean the product of the current per share market price of Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) on the date of the of the occurrence of the event described above in subparagraph (a)) multiplied by the number of Common Shares for which the Right otherwise would be exchangeable if there were sufficient shares available. To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 24(c), the Board of Directors may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a period of up to sixty (60) days following the date on which the event described in Section 24(a) shall have occurred, in order to seek any authorization of additional Common Shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to the above provision and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended.

  

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(d)           The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current per share market value of a whole Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d) hereof).

(e)           The Company may, at its option, by majority vote of the Board of Directors, at any time before any Person has become an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding Rights for rights of substantially equivalent value, as determined reasonably and with good faith by the Board of Directors, based upon the advice of one or more nationally recognized investment banking firms.

(f)           Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (e) 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 rights in exchange therefore as has been determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with subsection (e) above. The Company shall give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall mail a notice of such exchange to all of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares of the Company. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Rights will be effected.

Section 25.                      Notice of Certain Events.

(a)           In case the Company shall propose to effect or permit to occur any Triggering Event described in Section 1 l(a)(ii)(A) or 1l(a)(ii)(B) or a Section 13 Event, the Company shall give notice thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 26 hereof at least twenty (20) days prior to occurrence of such Triggering Event or such Section 13 Event.

(b)           In case any Triggering Event or Section 13 Event shall occur, then, in any such case, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11(a)(ii) and 13 hereof.

  

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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 sufficiently given or made if sent by first class mai1, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

Alanco Technologies, Inc.

7950 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 111

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

Attention: President

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

Law Office of Steven P. Oman, P.C.

8664 E. Chama Road

Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

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.

Section 27.                      Supplements and Amendments.  Prior to the Distribution Date, the Company may supplement or amend this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, execute such supplement or amendment. From and after the Distribution Date, the Company and the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order to (i) cure any ambiguity, (ii) correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder (which lengthening or shortening, following the first occurrence of an event set forth in the proviso to Section 23(a) hereof; shall be effective only if there are Continuing Directors and shall require the concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors) or (iv) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person); provided, this Agreement may not be supplemented or amended to lengthen, pursuant to clause (iii) of this sentence, (A) a time period relating to when the Rights may be redeemed at such time as the Rights are not then redeemable or (B) any other time period unless lengthening is for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the rights of, and/or the benefits to, the holders of Rights. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer 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. Prior to the Distribution Date, the interests of the holders of Rights shall be deemed coincident with the interests of the holders of Common Shares.

  

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Section 28.                      Successors. All of 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.  For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board of Directors of the Company (and, where specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors) shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board, or the Company (or, where specifically provided for herein, the Continuing Directors), or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including a determination to redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board (or, where specifically provided for herein, by the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights Certificates and all other parties and (y) not subject the Board or the Continuing Directors to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

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 Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificate (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).

  

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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 fill force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 23 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the close of business on the tenth day following the date of such determination by the Board of Directors.

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

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

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

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

ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC

By:  /s/  Robert R. Kauffman

Name:  Robert R. Kauffman

Title:  Chief Executive Officer

LAW OFFICE OF STEVEN P. OMAN, P.C.

By:  /s/  Steven P. Oman

 

Name:  Steven P. Oman

Title:  President

 

 

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