Document:

Exhibit

EXHIBIT 4.2

[Form of Right Certificate]
Certificate No. [R]-                                 ___________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT (AS DEFINED BELOW)), OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY.  THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, AT $0.0001 PER RIGHT, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.  RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND BY ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS ARE NULL AND VOID AND NONTRANSFERABLE.
Right Certificate
CENTRUS ENERGY CORP.
This certifies that                   , or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Section 382 Rights Agreement dated as of April 6, 2016 as it may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), among CENTRUS ENERGY CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), COMPUTERSHARE INC. (“Computershare”) and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY N.A. (together with Computershare, the “Rights Agent”), unless the Rights evidenced hereby shall have been previously redeemed or exchanged by the Company, to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and at or prior to the earlier of (i) the Final Expiration Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) the Redemption Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement), (iii) the Close of Business (as defined in the Rights Agreement) on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 or any successor statute if the Board of the Directors of the Company determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of NOLs (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or other Tax Benefits (as defined in the Rights Agreement), (iv) the Close of Business on the first day of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors of the Company determines that no NOLs or other Tax Benefits may be carried forward, or (v) the Close of Business on the 364th Day Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) (the “Expiration Date”), at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”), at a purchase price per one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share equal to $100 (the “Purchase Price”) payable in cash, upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed.
The Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which may be purchased upon exercise of each Right evidenced by this Right Certificate, as set forth above, are the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which may be so purchased as of [       ], 20[  ].  As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares which may be purchased upon the exercise of each Right evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.
If the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are at any time beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the 

Rights Agreement), such Rights shall be null and void and nontransferable and the holder of any such Right (including any purported transferee or subsequent holder) shall not have any right to exercise or transfer any such Right.
This Right Certificate is subject to all the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which reference to the Rights Agreement is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates.  Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Rights Agent and are also available from the Company upon written request.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number and kind of shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase.  If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price (in cash or shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of Directors of the Company to be at least equivalent in value) of $0.0001 per Right (which amount shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the Distribution Date and (ii) the Expiration Date.
The Company may, but shall not be required to, issue fractions of Preferred Shares or distribute certificates which evidence fractions of Preferred Shares upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby, in each case other than fractions constituting one one thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share (as such fraction may be adjusted as provided in the Rights Agreement).  In lieu of issuing fractional shares, the Company may elect to make a cash payment as provided in the Rights Agreement for fractions of a share other than one one-thousandth (1/1,000th) of a share (as such fraction may be adjusted as provided in the Rights Agreement) or any integral multiple thereof or to issue certificates or utilize a depository arrangement as provided in the terms of the Rights Agreement and the Preferred Shares.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or other distributions or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in accordance with the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent.

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of:
CENTRUS ENERGY CORP.,
by                        
    
Name:
Title:

Attest:
                            
Name:
Title:

Date of countersignature:
Countersigned:
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY N.A.
as Rights Agent,
by
                        
Authorized Signatory

COMPUTERSHARE INC.,
as Rights Agent,
by
                            
Authorized Signatory

[On Reverse Side of Right Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed by the registered holder if
such holder desires to exercise the Rights
represented by this Right Certificate.)

To the Rights Agent:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise              Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares (or other shares) issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
    
                                                    
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number
                                                        
(Please print name and address)
Dated:  ____________,
                            
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Market LLC Medallion Signature Program.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not being exercised by or on behalf of a person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (2) this Right Certificate is not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) and (3) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.

Dated:         ,
                        
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Market LLC Medallion Signature Program.

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED          hereby sells, assigns and transfer unto 
                
                                                        
(Please print name and address of transferee)
    
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint      Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.
Dated:  ____________, ____
                        
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program or the New York Stock Exchange Market LLC Medallion Signature Program.
The undersigned hereby certifies that (1) the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not being sold, assigned or transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (2) this Right Certificate is not being sold, assigned or transferred to or on behalf of any such Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate and (3) after inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the undersigned did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate from any Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement).
                    
Signature

NOTICE
The signature on the foregoing Form of Election to Purchase or Form of Assignment must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.Exhibit 4.1

 

CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

and

ACTION STOCK TRANSFER CORPORATION

Rights Agent

Rights Agreement

 Dated as of March 8, 2016

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Section

	 	
Page

	
Section 1.

	
Certain Definitions

	
1

	
Section 2.

	
Appointment of Rights Agent

	
6

	
Section 3.

	
Issuance of Rights Certificates

	
7

	 	
(a)  Distribution Date; Rights Certificates

	
7

	 	
(b)  Common Stock Certificates; Summary of Rights

	
7

	 	
(c)  Legend

	
8

	 	
(d)  Uncertificated Shares

	
8

	
Section 4.

	
Form of Rights Certificates

	
9

	 	
(a)  Form; Date

	
9

	 	
(b)  Acquiring Person Legend

	
9

	
Section 5.

	
Countersignature and Registration

	
10

	 	
(a)  Signatures

	
10

	 	
(b)  Registration and Transfer

	
10

	
Section 6.

	
Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights

	 
	 	
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates

	
11

	 	
(a)  Procedure

	
11

	 	
(b)  Issuance of New Rights Certificates

	
11

	
Section 7.

	
Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights

	
11

	 	
(a)  Exercise

	
11

	 	
(b)  Purchase Price

	
12

	 	
(c)  Rights Agent Actions

	
12

	 	
(d)  Partial Exercise

	
13

	 	
(e) Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights

	
13

	 	
(f) Surrender of Rights Certificates; Identity of Beneficial Owner

	
13

	
Section 8.

	
Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates

	
13

	
Section 9.

	
Reservation and Availability of Preferred Stock

	
14

	 	
(a) Reservation of Preferred Stock

	
14

	 	
(b) Covenant Regarding Preferred Stock

	
14

	 	
(c) Registration under the Act

	
15

	 	
(d) Transfer Taxes and Charges

	
15

	
Section 10.

	
Preferred Stock Record Date

	
15

	
Section 11.

	
Adjustment of Purchase Price; Number and Kind of Shares

	 
	 	
or Number of Rights

	
16

	 	
(a) Certain Adjustments

	
16

	 	
(b) Purchase Price Adjustment -- Capital Stock

	
18

	 	
(c) Purchase Price Adjustment -- Cash, Assets, etc

	
18

	 	
(d) Current Market Price

	
19

	 	
(e) Purchase Price Adjustment Threshold

	
19

	 	
(f) Equivalent Adjustments

	
20

	 	
(g) Post-Adjustment Rights Issuances

	
20

	 	
(h) Preferred Stock Anti-Dilution

	
20

	 	
(i) Adjustment of Number of Rights

	
20

	 	
(j) Rights Certificates

	
21

	 	
(k) Adjustment Below Par Value

	
21

	 	
(l) Adjustment Effective as of Future Date; Exercise

	
21

	 	
(m) Tax Adjustments

	
21

	 	
(n) Restriction on Certain Transactions

	
22

	 	
(o) Restriction Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights

	
22

	 	
(p) Common Stock Adjustments

	
22

	
Section 12.

	
Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares

	
22

	
Section 13.

	
Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power

	
23

	 	
(a) Flip-over Event

	
23

	 	
(b) Principal Party

	
24

	 	
(c) Supplemental Agreement

	
24

	 	
(d) Principal Party Supplement

	
25

	
Section 14.

	
Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares

	
26

	 	
(a) Fractional Rights

	
26

	 	
(b) Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock

	
27

	 	
(c) Fractional Shares of Common Stock

	
27

	 	
(d) Waiver of Fractional Rights and Shares

	
27

	
Section 15.

	
Rights of Action

	
27

	
Section 16.

	
Agreement of Rights Holders

	
27

	
Section 17.

	
Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder

	
28

	
Section 18.

	
Concerning the Rights Agent

	
28

	 	
(a) Compensation

	
28

	 	
(b) Reliance

	
29

	
Section 19.

	
Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent

	
29

	 	
(a) Successor

	
29

	 	
(b) Prior Countersignatures

	
29

	
Section 20.

	
Duties of Rights Agent

	
29

	 	
(a) Legal Counsel

	
30

	 	
(b) Certification by the Company

	
30

	 	
(c) Liability for Negligence, etc

	
30

	 	
(d) Statements of Fact or Recitals

	
30

	 	
(e) Agreement; Adjustments

	
30

	 	
(f) Further Assurances

	
30

	 	
(g) Instructions

	
30

	 	
(h) Dealing in Rights

	
31

	 	
(i) Agents; Reasonable Care

	
31

	 	
(j) Expenses; Repayment Assurances

	
31

	 	
(k) Exercise of Rights; Consultation with Company

	
31

	
Section 21.

	
Change of Rights Agent

	
31

	
Section 22.

	
Issuance of New Rights Certificates

	
32

	
Section 23.

	
Redemption and Termination

	
32

	 	
(a) Redemption

	
32

	 	
(b) Effect of Redemption; Procedure

	
33

	
Section 24.

	
Exchange

	
33

	 	
(a) Right to Exchange

	
33

	 	
(b) Effect of Exchange; Procedure

	
33

	 	
(c) Common Stock Equivalents

	
34

	 	
(d) Insufficient Common Stock

	
34

	 	
(e) Fractional Shares

	
34

	 	
(f) Trust

	
34

	
Section 25.

	
Notice of Certain Events

	
35

	 	
(a) Preferred Stock Transactions, etc

	
35

	 	
(b) Other Transactions

	
35

	
Section 26.

	
Notices

	
36

	
Section 27.

	
Supplements and Amendments

	
36

	
Section 28.

	
Successors

	
37

	
Section 29.

	
Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc

	
37

	
Section 30.

	
Benefits of this Agreement

	
37

	
Section 31.

	
Severability

	
37

	
Section 32.

	
Governing Law

	
37

	
Section 33.

	
Counterparts

	
37

	
Section 34.

	
Descriptive Headings

	
37

 

Exhibit 1                          Form of Rights Certificate

 

	Exhibit 2	Letter to Stockholders

 

	Exhibit 3	Summary

 

	Exhibit 4	Rights Agent Fees

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 8, 2016, between CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and ACTION STOCK TRANSFER CORPORATION (the "Rights Agent").

 

RECITALS

 

On March 2, 2016 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the Board of Directors of the Company (i) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding at the close of business on March 8, 2016 (the "Record Date"), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the rights, powers and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Preferred Stock previously filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, and (ii) further authorized the issuance of one Right (as such number may be hereafter adjusted as provided herein) for each share of Common Stock of the Company issued between the Record Date (whether originally issued or delivered from the Company's treasury) and the earliest of the Distribution Date and the Expiration Date;

 

AGREEMENT

 

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

 

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

 

(a)            "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person (as such term is hereinafter defined) who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of twenty percent (20%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, but shall not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (iv) any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person solely as a result of a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding due to the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company, unless and until such Person shall purchase or otherwise become (as a result of actions taken by such Person or its Affiliates or Associates) the Beneficial Owner of additional shares of Common Stock constituting 1% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) an Exempted Person (as such term is hereinafter defined).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (A) such Person was unaware that it beneficially owned a percentage of Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person, or (B) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and without any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company, and (ii) within ten Business Days of being requested by the Company to advise it regarding the same, such Person certifies to the Company that such Person acquired shares of Common Stock in excess of 20% inadvertently or without knowledge of the terms of the Rights and who, together with all Affiliates and Associates, thereafter does not acquire additional shares of Common Stock and within ten Business Days of being requested by the Company to do so disposes of the portion of such shares of Common Stock in excess of 20%, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or to have become an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Person requested to so certify fails to do so within ten Business Days of the Company's request or such Person fails to dispose of such shares of Common Stock in excess of 20% within ten Business Days of the Company's request, then such Person shall become an Acquiring Person immediately after such ten Business Day period.  The phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to own beneficially hereunder.

 

1

(b)             "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

(c)            "Adjustment Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii).

 

(d)            "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

(e)            "Agreement" shall mean this Rights Agreement as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

 

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

 

	
(i)

 

	
which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not, for purposes of this paragraph (i), be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of or to "beneficially own," (A) securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange, or (B) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights at any time prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event, or (C) securities issuable upon exercise of Rights from and after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, which Rights were acquired by such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates prior to the Distribution Date or pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 (the "Original Rights") or pursuant to Section 11(i) in connection with an adjustment made with respect to any Original Rights;

 

 

2

	
(ii)

 

	
which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or has "beneficial ownership" of (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act in effect on the date of this Agreement), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any security under this subparagraph (ii) as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if such agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable provisions of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable by such Person on a Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

 

	
(iii)

 

	
which are "beneficially owned," directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with which such Person (or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (f)) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company; or

 

	
(iv)

 

	
which are the subject of, or the reference securities for, or that underlie, any Derivative Interest (as such term hereinafter defined) of such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, with the number of shares of Common Stock deemed beneficially owned being the notional or other number of shares of Common Stock specified in the documentation evidencing the Derivative Interest as being subject to be acquired upon the exercise or settlement of the Derivative Interest or as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such Derivative Interest is to be calculated in whole or in part, if no such number of shares of Common Stock is specified in such documentation, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Derivative Interest relates.

 

provided, however, that nothing in this Section 1 shall cause a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities to be the "Beneficial Owner" of or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty (40) calendar days after the date of such acquisition or such later date as the Board may determine in any specific case.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person would be deemed to beneficially own hereunder.

 

3

 

(g)            "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

(j)            "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Stock" when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock of such Person with the greatest voting power, or the equity securities or other equity interest having power to control or direct the management, of such Person.

 

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

 

(l)            "Company" shall mean Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. until a successor corporation shall have become such, or until a Principal Party shall assume, and thereafter be liable for, all obligations and duties of the Company hereunder, pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor corporation or Principal Party.

 

(m)            "Current Market Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d).

 

(n)            "Current Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).

 

(o)            "Derivative Interest" shall mean any derivative securities (as defined in Rule 16a-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to, or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value (or change in value) of, any class or series of shares of the Company, including, but not limited to, a long convertible security, a long call option and a short put option position, in each case, regardless of whether (x) such interest conveys any voting rights in such security to any Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates, (y) such interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of securities of the Company or through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise or (z) any other transactions exist to hedge the economic effect of such interest; provided, that, for the purposes of the definition of Derivative Interest, the term "derivative security" shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a "derivative security" as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination.  A Derivative Interest shall not include any interest, right, option or security set forth in Rule 16a-1(c)(1) -(5) or (7) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

4

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

 

(q)            "Equivalent Preferred Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b).

 

(r)            "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

(s)            "Exchange Number" shall mean one-half of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock, (ii) one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, or (iii) shares or other units of other property for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the time of the action of the Board to exchange the Rights.

 

(t)            "Expiration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

(u)            "Final Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business on the third anniversary of the date of this Rights Agreement.

 

(v)            "Flip-in Event" shall mean any event described in Section 11(a)(ii).

 

(w)            "Flip-in Trigger Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).

 

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

 

(y)            "Original Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1(f)(i).

 

(z)            "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity.

 

(aa)            "Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company having the terms set forth in the Company's Certificate Of Designation of Junior Participating Preferred Stock, Series D of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., and, to the extent that there is not a sufficient number of shares of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock authorized to permit the full exercise of the Rights, any other series of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company designated for such purpose containing terms substantially similar to the terms of the Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

 

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

 

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

 

5

(dd)            "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recital at the beginning of the Agreement.

 

(ee)            "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a).

 

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

 

(gg)            "Rights" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recital at the beginning of the Agreement.

 

(hh)            "Rights Agent" shall mean Action Stock Transfer Corporation until a successor Rights Agent shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and thereafter "Rights Agent" shall mean such successor Rights Agent. If at any time there is more than one Person appointed by the Company as Rights Agent pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, "Rights Agent" shall mean and include each such Person.

 

(ii)            "Rights Certificates" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

(jj)            "Rights Dividend Declaration Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recital at the beginning of the Agreement.

 

(kk)            "Spread" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).

 

(ll)            "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.

 

(mm)            "Subsidiary" shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of equity securities or majority of the equity interest is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.

 

(nn)            "Substitution Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii).

 

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

 

(pp)            "Triggering Event" shall mean any Flip-in Event or any Flip-over Event.

 

(qq)            "Trust" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(f).

 

(rr)            "Trust Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(f).

 

(ss)            "Trust Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(f).

 

Section 2.                          Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such Co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.

 

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Section 3.                                                    Issuance of Rights Certificates.

 

(a)                        Distribution Date; Rights Certificates.  Until the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date), or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or such later date as the Board shall determine prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the date that a tender or exchange offer by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) is first published or sent or given within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, if upon consummation thereof such Person would be an Acquiring Person (the earlier of (i) and (ii) being herein referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3) by the certificates for the Common Stock registered in the names of the holders of the Common Stock (which certificates for Common Stock shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and not by separate certificates, and (y) the Rights will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock (including a transfer to the Company, except pursuant to the provision of Section 23). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will send by first-class, insured, postage prepaid mail, to each record holder of the Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, one or more rights certificates, in substantially the form of Exhibit 2 hereto (the "Rights Certificates"), evidencing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein.  In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(p) 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)) so that Rights Certificates representing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and any fractional Rights are rounded up or down to the nearest whole number of Rights.  As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Rights Certificates.  The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of a Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm same in writing on or prior to the Business Day next following.  Until such notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that a Distribution Date has not occurred.

 

(b)                        Common Stock Certificates; Summary of Rights.  With respect to certificates for the Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates will be evidenced by such certificates alone and the registered holders of such Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights. Until the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, the transfer of any certificates representing shares of Common Stock in respect of which Rights have been issued shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.  On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock, in substantially the form of Exhibit 3 hereto (the "Summary of Rights"), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company.

 

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(c)                        Legend.  Rights shall be issued in respect of all certificates for shares of Common Stock which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the (i) Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date or, in certain circumstances provided in Section 22, after the Distribution Date. Certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights, and shall bear the following legend:

 

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of March 8, 2016, by and between Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (the "Company") and Action Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights Agent, as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended (the "Rights Agreement"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor.  Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by, any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), whether currently held by or on behalf of such Person or by any subsequent holder, may become null and void and nontransferable.

 

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the earliest of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) the Expiration Date, (x) the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, (y) the registered holders of such Common Stock shall also be the registered holders of the associated Rights, and (z) the transfer of any of such certificates shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock.  In the event that the Company purchases, or acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with shares of Common Stock which are no longer outstanding.  Notwithstanding this Section 3(c), neither the omission of a legend nor the inclusion of a legend that makes reference to a rights agreement other than the Rights Agreement shall affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights.

 

(d)            Uncertificated Shares.  In the case of Common Stock held in uncertificated form, the Company shall cause the confirmation and account statements sent to holders of Common Stock in book-entry form (including upon transfer or exchange of outstanding Common Stock) prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date to bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

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Each share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. (the "Company") entitles the holder thereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Rights Agreement dated as of March 8, 2016 (as it may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement")), between the Company and Action Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which, is on file at the principal offices of the Company.  Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be evidenced by separate certificates and will no longer be evidenced by the shares to which this statement relates.  The Company will mail to the holder of shares to which this statement relates a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefore.  Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to, or held by any Person who is, was or becomes an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) or by any subsequent holder of such Rights may become null and void and nontransferable.

 

Notwithstanding this Section 3(d), neither the omission of a legend nor the inclusion of a legend that makes reference to a rights agreement other than the Rights Agreement shall affect the enforceability of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of any holder of Rights.

 

Section 4.                          Form of Rights Certificates.

 

(a)                        Form; Date.  The Rights Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 2 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 any securities association on whose interdealer quotation system the Rights may be from time to time authorized for quotation, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 and Section 22, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed, shall be dated as of the Distribution Date and on their face shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as shall be set forth therein at the price set forth therein (such exercise price per one one-thousandths of a share is referred to herein as the "Purchase Price"), but the amount and type of securities purchasable upon the exercise of each Right and the Purchase Price thereof shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

(b)                        Acquiring Person Legend.  Any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 3(a) or Section 22 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 is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect avoidance of Section 7(e) and any Rights Certificate issued pursuant to Section 6, Section 11 or Section 22 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:

 

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The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate are or were beneficially owned by a Person who was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement dated as of March 8, 2016, by and between Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. and Action Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights Agent).  Accordingly, this Rights Certificate and the Rights represented hereby may become null and void in the circumstances specified in Section 7(e) of such Agreement.

 

Section 5.                          Countersignature and Registration.

 

(a)                        Signatures.  The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company either by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company's seal or a facsimile thereof (if the Company has a seal) which shall be attested to by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any individual 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 Agreement any such individual was not such an officer.

 

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

 

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

 

(a)                        Procedure.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4(b), Section 7(e), Section 14, and Section 24, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate or Certificates may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or, following a Triggering Event, Common Stock, other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Certificates surrendered then entitle such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase.  Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have completed and signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate and shall have provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) or Affiliates or Associates thereof as the Company shall reasonably request.  Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 4(b), Section 7(e) and Section 14, 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)            Issuance of New Rights Certificates.  Subject to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may amend this Rights Agreement to provide for uncertificated Rights in addition to or in place of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates.

 

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

 

(a)                        Exercise.  Subject to Section 7(e), the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein, including, without limitation, Section 11(a)(iii), Section 23(a) and Section 24(b)) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the aggregate Purchase Price with respect to the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which such surrendered Rights are then exercisable and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the Redemption Date, or (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof (the earliest of (i), (ii), and (iii) being herein referred to as the "Expiration Date").  The payment of the Purchase Price and the applicable transfer tax, if any (as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii)), may be made (x) in cash, (y) by certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (z) by delivery of a certificate or certificates (with appropriate stock powers executed in blank attached thereto) evidencing a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the then Purchase Price divided by the closing price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) per share of Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of such exercise.  In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities (including Common Stock) of the Company, pay cash and/or distribute other property pursuant to Section 11(a), the Company will make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash and/or other property are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when appropriate. The Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event that upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock would be issued.

 

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(b)            Purchase Price.  The Purchase Price for each one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right shall initially be $20.00, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 11 and Section 13(a) and shall be payable in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 7.

 

(c)            Rights Agent Actions.  Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights and the compliance by the holder of such Rights Certificate with paragraph (a) of this Section 7, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 20(k), thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates for the total number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) if the Company shall have elected to deposit the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depositary agent) and the Company will direct the depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) requisition from the Company the amount of cash, if any, to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14, (iii) after receipt thereof, deliver such certificates or depositary receipts to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, and (iv) after receipt thereof, deliver such cash, if any, to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.

 

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(d)            Partial Exercise.  In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent and delivered to, or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, subject to the provisions of Section 14.

 

(e)            Termination of Acquiring Person's Rights.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the first occurrence of a Flip-in 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 such Acquiring Person becomes such, or (iii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person (or of any such Associate or Affiliate) who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such and receives such Rights pursuant to either (A) a transfer (whether or not for consideration) from the Acquiring Person to holders of equity interests in such Acquiring Person or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding regarding the transferred Rights or (B) a transfer which is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has as a primary purpose or effect the avoidance of this Section 7(e), shall become null and void without any further action and no holder of such Rights shall have any rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 7(e) and Section 4(b) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or any of its respective Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder.  The Company shall give the Rights Agent written notice of the identity of any Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate known to it, or the nominee of any of the foregoing, and the Rights Agent may rely on such notice in carrying out its duties under this Agreement and shall be deemed not to have any knowledge of the identity of any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate, or the nominee of any of the foregoing unless and until it shall have received such notice.

 

(f)            Surrender of Rights Certificates; Identity of Beneficial Owner.  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 any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all 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 Stock.

 

(a)                        Reservation of Preferred Stock.  The Company will use its best efforts to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, as provided in this Agreement, including the rights of the Company under Section 11(a)(iii) to otherwise fulfill its obligations, will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to reserve and keep available shares of Preferred Stock to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights pursuant to the adjustments set forth in Section 11(a) or Section 13 hereof unless the Rights become exercisable pursuant to such adjustments, and then only to the extent the Rights become exercisable pursuant to such adjustment.

 

(b)            Covenant Regarding Preferred Stock.  If there are not sufficient shares of Preferred Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise or exchange of Rights in accordance with this Agreement, the Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional Preferred Stock for issuance upon the exercise or exchange of Rights pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Company is unable to cause the authorization of additional Preferred Stock, then the Company shall, or, if action by the Company's stockholders is necessary to cause such authorization, in lieu of seeking any such authorization, the Company, to the extent necessary and permitted by applicable law and any agreements or instruments in effect prior to the Distribution Date to which it is a party, may, at its option, undertake any of the following: (i) upon surrender of a Right, pay cash equal to the Purchase Price in lieu of issuing Preferred Stock and requiring payment therefor, (ii) upon due exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price for each one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock as to which such Right is exercised, issue Common Stock or other equity and/or debt securities having a value equal to the value of the Preferred Stock that otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to this Agreement, which value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board, or (iii) upon due exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price for each one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock as to which such Right is exercised, distribute a combination of Preferred Stock, cash and/or other equity and/or debt securities having an aggregate value equal to the value of the Preferred Stock that otherwise would have been issuable pursuant to this Agreement, which value shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board.  To the extent that any legal or contractual restrictions (pursuant to agreements or instruments in effect prior to the Distribution Date to which it is party) prevent the Company from paying the full amount payable in accordance with the foregoing sentence, the Company shall pay to the holders of the Rights as to which such payments are being made all amounts that are not then restricted on a pro rata basis as such payments become permissible under such legal or contractual restrictions until such payments have been paid in full.

 

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

 

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(c)            Registration under the Act.  The Company will use its best efforts to (i) file, as soon as practicable following the earliest date after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event on which the consideration to be delivered by the Company upon exercise of the Rights has been determined in accordance with Section 11(a)(iii), or as soon as is required by law following the Distribution Date, as the case may be, a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights if and to the extent then necessary to permit the issuance of the securities upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, and (iii) cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities, and (B) the Expiration Date.  The Company will also take such action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed one hundred fifty (150) calendar days after the date set forth in clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 9(c), the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and permit it to become effective.  Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. In addition, if the Company shall determine that a registration statement is required following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights until such time as a registration statement has been declared effective. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction shall not have been obtained, the exercise thereof shall not be permitted under applicable law or a registration statement shall not have been declared effective.   

 

(d)            Transfer Taxes and Charges.  The Company will pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in respect of a name other than, that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificates evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any certificates for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock and/or other securities, as the case may be) in a name other than that of the registered holder upon the exercise of any Rights until such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company's satisfaction that no such tax is due.

 

Section 10.                          Preferred Stock Record Date.  Each Person in whose name any certificate for a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such fractional shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated as of, the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares (fractional or otherwise) on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the Preferred Stock transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.

 

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

 

(a)            Certain Adjustments.

 

	
(i)            

 

	
In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide or split the outstanding Preferred Stock, (C) combine the shares of the outstanding Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a) and Section 7(e), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or at the time of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the aggregate adjusted Purchase Price then in effect necessary to exercise a Right in full, the aggregate number and kind of shares of Preferred Stock or capital stock, as the case may be, which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, split, combination or reclassification; provided, 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 one Right.  If an event occurs which would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii).

	
(ii)

 

	
Subject to Section 23 and Section 24, in the event that any Person alone or together with its Affiliates and Associates, shall, at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date, become an Acquiring Person (a "Flip-In Event") then, promptly following the occurrence of any such Flip-in Event, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right (except as provided below and in Section 7(e)) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, in lieu of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event, and (y) dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by 50% of the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on the date of such first occurrence (such number of shares being referred to as the "Adjustment Shares").

	
(iii)

 

	
In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that are authorized by the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a), the Company shall: (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the Adjustment Shares issuable upon the exercise of a Right (the "Current Value") over (2) the Purchase Price (such excess, the "Spread"), and (B) with respect to each Right, subject to Section 7(e), make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares, or units of shares, of preferred stock which the Board has deemed to have substantially the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as shares of Common Stock and are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to have substantially the same value as the shares of Common Stock (such shares of preferred stock being referred to as "Common Stock Equivalents")), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value (less the amount of any reduction in the Purchase Price), where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board, or, at the option of the Board, determined by the Board  based upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided, however, that if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) calendar days following the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event (the date of such Flip-in Event being referred to herein as the "Flip-in Trigger Date"), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and/or cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock or other equity securities could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the thirty (30) calendar day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the Flip-in Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period, the "Substitution Period"). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e), that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of a proportionate part or all of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof.  In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of a proportionate part or all of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect.  For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iii), the value of the shares of Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Flip-in Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such date.

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(iv)

 

	
If the rules of the national securities exchange, registered as such pursuant to Section 6 of the Exchange Act, or of the national securities association, registered as such pursuant to Section 15A of the Exchange Act, on which the Common Stock is principally traded or quoted would prohibit such exchange or association from listing or continuing to list, or from authorizing for or continuing quotation and/or transaction reporting through an inter-dealer quotation system, the Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company if the Rights were to be exercised for shares of Common Stock in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this Section 11(a) because such issuance would nullify, restrict or disparately reduce the per share voting rights of holders of Common Stock, the Company shall: (A) determine the Spread, and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for the Adjustment Shares, upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) equity securities of the Company, including, without limitation, Common Stock Equivalents, other than securities which would have the effect of nullifying, restricting or disparately reducing the per share voting rights of holders of Common Stock, (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board or, at the option of the Board, determined by the Board   based upon the advice of a recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board; provided, however, if the Company shall not have made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within thirty (30) calendar days following the Flip-in 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, cash having an aggregate value equal to the Spread. To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 7(e), that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights, but not longer than ninety (90) calendar days after the Flip-in Trigger Date, in order 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 the shares of Common Stock shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on the Flip-in Trigger Date and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same value as the Common Stock on such date.

 

 

17

(b)            Purchase Price Adjustment -- Capital Stock.  In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase (for a period expiring within forty-five (45) calendar days after such record date) shares of Preferred Stock (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock ("Equivalent Preferred Stock")) or securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or per share of Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date, plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and/or Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, 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 one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid by delivery of consideration part or all of which may be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

 

(c)            Purchase Price Adjustment -- Cash, Assets, etc.  In case the Company shall fix a record date for a distribution to all holders of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of the earnings or retained earnings of the Company), assets (other than a dividend payable in Preferred Stock, but including any dividend payable in stock other than Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b)), 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 per share of Preferred Stock on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the cash, assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to a share of Preferred Stock and the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock; provided, 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 share of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.  Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the 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)            Current Market Price.

 

	
(i)            

 

	
In the case of a publicly-traded stock or other security for the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current Market Price on any date shall be deemed to be the volume-weighted average trading price per share of such stock or per unit of other security for the thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to such date, provided, however, that in the event that the Current Market Price per share of stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such stock of (A) a dividend or distribution on such stock payable in shares of such stock or securities convertible into shares of such stock (other than the Rights), or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such stock and the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall not have occurred prior to the commencement of the requisite thirty (30) Trading Days as set forth above, then, and in each such case, the Current Market Price shall be properly adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading.  The 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.

 

	
(ii)

 

	
For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the Current Market Price per share of Preferred Stock shall be in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i).  If the Preferred Stock is not publicly traded, the Current Market Price per share of the Preferred Stock shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Market Price of the Common Stock of the Company determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred.  If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock is publicly listed or traded, the Current Market Price shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.

 

(e)            Purchase Price Adjustment Threshold.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent (1%) in the Purchase Price; provided however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest hundredth of a share of Common Stock or other share or hundred-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three (3) years from the date of the transaction which mandates such adjustment, or (ii) the Expiration Date.

 

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

 

(g)            Post-Adjustment Rights Issuances.  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 one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

 

(h)            Preferred Stock Anti-Dilution.  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) and Section 11(c), each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest hundred-thousandths) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this adjustment, by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of such Purchase Price, and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of such Purchase Price.

 

(i)            Adjustment of Number of Rights.  The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in lieu of any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Right.  Each of the Rights outstanding after the adjustment in the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which such Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one-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 such 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) calendar 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 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)            Rights Certificates.  Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock and the number of one one-thousandths of a share of such Preferred Stock which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificates issued hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(n)            Restriction on Certain Transactions.  The Company shall not, at any time after the earlier of the Stock Acquisition Date or the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) merge with or into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), (iii) enter into a statutory share exchange or similar transaction with any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), or (iv) sell or transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one transaction, or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), if (x) at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange or similar transaction, or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect which would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights or (y) prior to, simultaneously with or immediately after such consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange or similar transaction, or sale, the stockholders of the Person who constitutes, or would constitute, the "Principal Party" for purposes of Section 13(a) shall have received a distribution of Rights previously owned by such Person or any of its Affiliates and Associates.

 

(o)                        Restriction Against Diminishing Benefits of the Rights.  The Company covenants and agrees that, after the earlier of the Stock Acquisition Date or the Distribution Date, it will not, except as permitted by Section 23, Section 24 or Section 27 take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action will diminish substantially or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

 

(p)            Common Stock Adjustments.  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that the Company shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) declare a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event shall equal the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event.  The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(p) shall be made successively to the Common Stock whenever such a dividend is declared or paid or such subdivision, combination or consolidation is effected on such Common Stock.

 

Section 12.                          Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.  Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11, Section 13 or Section 23(a) the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) mail or cause the Rights Agent to mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to each holder of a certificate representing shares of Common Stock) in accordance with Section 26.  The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained.

 

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

 

(a)                        Flip-over Event.  In the event that, at any time after a Person has become an Acquiring Person, directly or indirectly, (x) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, or enter into a statutory stock exchange or similar transaction with, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction, (y) any Person (other than a direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)) shall consolidate with, or merge with or into, or enter into a statutory stock exchange or similar transaction with, the Company, and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction and, in connection with such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction, all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property, or (z) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets, cash flow or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons (other than the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), then, and in each such case, (i) proper provision shall be made so that: each holder of a Right, except as provided in Section 7(e) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current Purchase Price in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid, nonassessable and freely tradeable shares of Common Stock of the Principal Party, not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall be equal to the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event (or, if a Flip-in Event has occurred prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event, multiplying the number of such one one-thousandths of a share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event by the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such first occurrence), and (B) dividing that product (which, following the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event, shall be referred to as the "Purchase Price" for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by  50% of the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such Flip-over Event; (ii) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-over Event, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party following the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event; (iv) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock) in connection with the consummation of any such transaction as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to its shares of Common Stock thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (v) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof shall be of no effect following the first occurrence of any Flip-over Event.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if a Flip-over Event shall occur prior to the Distribution Date, then (i) the Rights shall survive such Flip-over Event and shall not as a result thereof be cancelled, terminated or otherwise cease to exist and (ii) the Distribution Date shall be deemed to have occurred on the day immediately prior to the date of such Flip-over Event.

 

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(b)            Principal Party.  "Principal Party" shall mean

 

	
(i)            

 

	
in the case of any transaction described in clause (x) or (y) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which the shares of Common Stock are converted in such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding and if no securities are so issued, (x) the Person that is the other party to such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange or similar transaction if the Person survives the merger, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the shares of Common Stock of which have the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding, or (y) if the Person that is the other party to the merger does not survive the merger, the Person that does survive the merger or (z) the Person resulting from the consolidation, and

 

	
(ii)

 

	
in the case of any transaction described in clause (z) of the first sentence of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the greatest portion of the assets, cash flow or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives that same portion of the assets, cash flow or earning power so transferred or if the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever of such Persons as is the issuer of Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value of shares outstanding;

 

provided, however, that in any such case, (1) if the Common Stock of such Person is not at such time and has not been continuously over the preceding twelve (12) month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person the Common Stock of which is and has been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to such other Person; and (2) in case such Person is a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, of more than one Person, the Common Stocks of two or more of which are and have been so registered, "Principal Party" shall refer to whichever of such Persons is the issuer of the total outstanding Common Stock having the greatest aggregate market value.

 

(c)            Supplemental Agreement.  The Company shall not consummate a Flip-over Event unless the Principal Party shall have a sufficient number of authorized shares of its Common Stock which have not been issued or reserved for issuance to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with this Section 13 and unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing for the terms set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 13 and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of such Flip-over Event, the Principal Party will:

 

24

 

	
(i)

 

	
prepare and file a registration statement under the Act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to (A) become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (B) remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Act) until the Expiration Date and take all such other action as may be necessary to enable the Principal Party to issue the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, including but not limited to the registration or qualification of such securities under all requisite securities laws or jurisdictions of the various states and the listing of such securities on such exchange and trading markets as may be necessary or appropriate;

 

	
(ii)

 

	
use its best efforts, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or on another national securities exchange, to list or admit to trading (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on the New York Stock Exchange or such securities exchange, or, if the Common Stock of the Principal Party shall not be listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or a national securities exchange, to cause the Rights and the securities receivable upon exercise of the Rights to be reported by such other system then in use;

 

	
(iii)

 

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

 

	
(iv)

 

	
obtain waivers of any rights of first refusal or preemptive rights and obtain any and all regulatory approvals as may be required in respect of the Common Stock of the Principal Party subject to purchase upon exercise of outstanding Rights.

 

The provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers or statutory share exchanges or similar transactions or sales or other transfers. In the event that a Flip-over Event shall occur at any time after the occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Rights which have not theretofore been exercised shall thereafter become exercisable in the manner described in Section 13(a).

 

(d)            Principal Party Supplement.  In case the Principal Party that is to be a party to a transaction referred to in this Section 13 has at the time of such transaction, or immediately following such transaction will have, a provision in any of its authorized securities or in its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other instrument governing its affairs, or any other agreements or arrangements, which provision would have the effect of (i) causing such Principal Party to issue, in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13, shares of Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than the then current market price per share (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock of such Principal Party at less than such then current market price (other than to holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13); (ii) providing for any special payment, tax, or similar provisions in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock of such Principal Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 13; or (iii) otherwise eliminating or substantially diminishing the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 13; then, in such event, the Company shall not consummate any such transaction unless prior thereto the Company and such Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement providing that the provision in question of such Principal Party shall have been canceled, waived, or amended, or that the authorized securities shall be redeemed, so that the applicable provision will have no effect in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of the proposed transaction.

 

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Section 14.                          Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.

 

(a)                        Fractional Rights.  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(p), or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights.  In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company may, at its option, either (i) round up or down the fractional Rights to which a particular record holder is entitled to the nearest whole number of Rights, or (ii) pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right.  For purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable.  The closing price of the Rights for any Trading Day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such Trading Day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board.  If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board shall be used.

 

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(b)            Fractional Shares of Preferred Stock.  The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock which may at the option of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock).  Interests in fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided, however, that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of the Preferred Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock.  For purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one one-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

 

(c)            Fractional Shares of Common Stock.  Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock.  In lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may round the number of fractional shares of Common Stock up or down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock, and pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided the resulting rounded number of shares of Common Stock.  For purposes of this Section 14(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

 

(d)            Waiver of Fractional Rights and Shares.  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, except as permitted by this Section 14.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 17.                          Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder.  No holder, as such, of any Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25), 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.

 

(a)                        Compensation.  The Company shall pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as set forth on Exhibit 5 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 agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)                        Certification by the Company.  Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of Current Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer 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)                        Liability for Negligence, etc.  The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

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

 

(e)            Agreement; Adjustments.  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); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment required under the provisions of Section 11 or Section 13 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after actual notice of any such adjustment); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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

 

(g)            Instructions.  The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company and to apply to such persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the instructions of any such person.

 

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(h)            Dealing in Rights.  The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

 

(i)            Agents; Reasonable Care.  The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct; provided, however, reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.

 

(j)                        Expenses; Repayment Assurances.  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)            Exercise of Rights; Consultation with Company.  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 of transfer without first consulting with the Company.

 

Section 21.                          Change of Rights Agent.  The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) calendar days' notice in writing mailed to the Company, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) calendar days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights Certificates by first-class mail.  If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent.  If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) calendar days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the court to issue an order requiring the Company to appoint a new Rights Agent.  Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer or corporate trust powers, is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a corporation described in clause (a) of this sentence.  After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose.  Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates.  Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, 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.

 

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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 the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.  In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the redemption or expiration of the Rights, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities hereafter issued by the Company, in either case outstanding as of the Distribution Date, and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material, adverse tax consequences to the Company or the Person to whom such Rights Certificate would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.

 

Section 23.                          Redemption and Termination.

 

(a)                        Redemption.  The Board of Directors may, at its option, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person or (ii) the Expiration Date, redeem (the date of such redemption being referred to herein as the "Redemption Date") all but not less than all of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such amount may be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the "Redemption Price").  The redemption of the Rights by the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, shares of Common Stock (based on the Current Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by Board.

 

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(b)                        Effect of Redemption; Procedure.  Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held.  Promptly after the action of the Board ordering the redemption of Rights, the Company shall (i) give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent, (ii) give public notice of such redemption, and (iii) mail notice of such redemption to the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption.  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. Amounts payable shall be rounded down to the nearest $0.01.

 

Section 24.                          Exchange.

 

(a)                        Right to Exchange.  The Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (other than Rights which have become void as provided in Section 7(e)) for the Exchange Number of shares of Common Stock, up to two times the number of shares or units of Preferred Stock which the Board has determined to be a Common Stock Equivalent, units of other property or any combination thereof as determined by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company 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 shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  The exchange of the Rights by the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.

 

(b)            Effect of Exchange; Procedure.  Immediately upon the action of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24, evidence of which shall have been filed with the Rights Agent, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or units of other property equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Number. Promptly after the action of the Company ordering the exchange of the Rights, the Company shall (i) file evidence of such action with the Rights Agent, (ii) give public notice of such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange, and (iii) mail notice of such exchange to 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 will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange of Rights shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become void as provided in Section 7(e)) held by each holder of Rights.

 

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(c)            Common Stock Equivalents.  In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Common Stock Equivalents for Common Stock exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one share of Common Stock Equivalent for each share of Common Stock, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, so that the share of Common Stock Equivalent delivered in lieu of each share of Common Stock shall have the same voting rights as one share of Common Stock.

 

(d)            Insufficient Common Stock.  In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock which are authorized by the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is not sufficient to permit any exchange of such Rights for Common Stock in accordance with this Section 24, the Company may, at its option, take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional shares of Common Stock for issuance upon such exchange.

 

(e)                        Fractional Shares.  Upon the action of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares. In lieu of such fractional shares, the Company may, at its option, either (i) round all such fractional shares up or down to the nearest whole number of shares, and issue such rounded whole number of shares, or (ii) pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 24, the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price of one share of Common Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24, and the value of any Common Stock Equivalent shall be deemed to have the same current market value as the Common Stock on such date.

 

(f)            Trust.  Upon or prior to ordering the exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 24, or as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, direct the Company to enter into a Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement") in such form and with such terms as the Board of Directors shall then approve.  If the Board of Directors so directs, (1) the Company shall enter into the Trust Agreement and shall issue to the trust created by the Trust Agreement (the "Trust") all the shares of Common Stock and/or Common Stock Equivalents (the "Trust Shares") issuable upon exchange of the Rights in accordance with this Section 24 to (x) all holders of outstanding and exercisable Rights subject to exchange in accordance with Section 24(a) (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof), or (y) some portion of such holders (which may consist of holders who have not taken proper steps to certify or otherwise demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Company that the Rights held by them have not become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(e) hereof), and (2) all holders referred to in clause (1) shall be entitled to receive Common Stock and/or Common Stock Equivalents pursuant to this Section 24 only from the Trust and only upon compliance with the relevant terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement.  The Trust Shares shall also include any dividends or distributions made on the Trust Shares after the deposit of the Trust Shares.

 

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Section 25.                          Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a)                        Preferred Stock Transactions, etc.  In case the Company shall propose, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of Preferred Stock (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend out of earnings or retained earnings of the Company); (ii) to offer to the holders of Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options; (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock); (iv) to effect any consolidation with, merger into or with, or statutory share exchange or similar transaction with, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction which complies with Section 11(o)), or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)); (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the shares of Common Stock payable in Common Stock or to effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Stock), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, statutory share exchange or similar transaction, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever shall be the earlier.

 

(b)            Other Transactions.  In case any of the events set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) shall occur, then, in any such case, (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 26, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Section 11(a)(ii), and (ii) all references in the preceding paragraph to Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to Common Stock and/or, if appropriate, other securities.

 

35

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 facsimile (with receipt confirmed) or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

 

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc.

3661 Horseblock Road

Medford, NY  11763

Attn: Richard Larkin, CFO

Fax: (631) 924-2065

 

with a copy to:

 

Haynes and Boone, LLP

1801 Broadway Street, Suite 800

Denver, CO  80202

Attn: Alan Talesnick

Fax: (303) 382-6210

 

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

 

Action Stock Transfer Corporation

2469 E. Fort Union Blvd., Suite 214

Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Attention:  Justeene Blankenship

Fax:  (801) 274-1099

 

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

 

Section 27.                          Supplements and Amendments.  Prior to the time that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock or, on and after the Distribution Date, the holders of Rights Certificates.  From and after the Distribution Date and subject to applicable law, the Company and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment may (i) adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights Certificates (other than an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Person) or, prior to the Distribution Date, holders of certificates representing shares of Common Stock; (ii) cause this Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence; or (iii) cause the Rights again to become redeemable.  Any supplement or amendment to this Agreement adopted during any period after any Person has become an Acquiring Person has but prior to the Distribution Date shall be null and void unless such supplement or amendment could have been adopted under the prior sentence from and after the Distribution Date.  Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 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 Stock.

 

36

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

 

Section 29.                          Determinations and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.  For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the last sentence of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may 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 or not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or made by the Board in good faith shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y) not subject the Board to any liability to the holders of the Rights.

 

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

 

Section 31.                          Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable and the Board 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 shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board.

 

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

 

Section 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.

 

37

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

 

CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

 

By:                                                                                    

 

Name:                                                                            

 

Title:                                                                            

 

ACTION STOCK

TRANSFER CORPORATION

By:                                                                                    

 

Name:                                                                            

 

Title:                                                                            

 

38

Exhibit 1

 

[Form of Rights Certificate]

 

Certificate No. R____ ______ Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF MARCH 8, 2019 OR SUCH DATE AS THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE REDEEMED BY CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC. (THE "CORPORATION").  THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION, AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION, AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH 8, 2016, BY AND BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND ACTION STOCK TRANSFER CORPORATION, AS RIGHTS AGENT (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) AND ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID AND NONTRANSFERABLE. [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 AND NON TRANSFERABLE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN SECTION 7(e) OF SUCH AGREEMENT.]1

 

Rights Certificate

 CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

 

This certifies that ____________________________, or its, his or her registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2016 (the "Rights Agreement"), between Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Corporation"), and Action Stock Transfer Corporation (the "Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Corporation at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York time) on __________, _____, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successors as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a fully paid, nonassessable share of Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") of the Corporation, at a purchase price of $20.00 per one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share (the "Purchase Price"), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of shares which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of March 8, 2016, based on the Series D Preferred Stock as constituted at such date.  The Corporation reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) that upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Series A Preferred Stock would be issued.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement), if the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are beneficially owned by (i) an Acquiring Person or an Associate or Affiliate or any such Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement), (ii) a transferee of an Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee after such Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate becomes such, or (iii) under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, a transferee of an Acquiring Person or its Associate or Affiliate who becomes a transferee prior to or concurrently with the Acquiring Person becoming such, such Rights shall become null and void and no holder hereof shall have any right with respect to such Rights from and after the occurrence of such Flip-in Event.

 

As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number and kind of shares of Series D Preferred Stock or other securities, which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events, including Triggering Events (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

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

 

This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of one one-thousandths of a share of Series D Preferred Stock as the Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights for which this Rights Certificate is not exercised.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Corporation at its option at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to the earlier of (a) the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person or (b) the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Stock, shares of the Corporation's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, other property or any combination thereof.

 

In addition, subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, at any time and from time to time after the first occurrence of a Flip-in Event, the Rights may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for shares of the  Common Stock, or shares of  Common Stock equivalents of the Corporation having substantially the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as shares of Common Stock and are deemed in good faith by the Board of Directors to have substantially the same value as the shares of Common Stock.  Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Corporation authorizing any such exchange, and without any further action or any notice, the Rights (other than Rights which are not subject to such exchange) will terminate and the Rights will only enable holders to receive the shares issuable upon such exchange.

 

No fractional shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Series D Preferred Stock, which may, at the election of the Corporation, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

No holder of this Rights Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of Series D Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Corporation which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders of the Corporation 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 of the Corporation (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

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

 

1The portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.

 

 

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Corporation and its corporate seal.

 

Dated to be effective as of: ___________________

 

ATTEST:                                                                                                                CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

 

By:                                                                                                              By:                                                                    

 

Secretary                                                                                                                Title:                                                              

 

Countersigned:

 

ACTION STOCK TRANSFER CORPORATION

 

By:                                                                      

 

Authorized Signature

 

[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such

 

holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

(Please print name and address of transferee)

 

this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-named Corporation, with full power of substitution.

 

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

 

(1)            this Rights Certificate [ ] is [ ] is not being sold, assigned and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement); and

 

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

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

NOTICE

 

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

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed if holder desires to exercise

 

Rights represented by the Rights Certificate.)

 

To:            CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _______________ Rights represented by this Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of Series D Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Corporation or of any other person which may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to:

 

Please insert social security or other identifying number

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

(Please print name and address)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

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

 

Please insert social security or other identifying number

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

(Please print name and address)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

CERTIFICATE

 

The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:

 

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

 

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

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Signature

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

NOTICE

 

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

 

Exhibit 2

 

[Letter to Stockholders]

 

 

Dear Chembio Diagnostics, Inc. Stockholder:

 

On March 8, 2016, your Board of Directors entered into a Stockholder Rights Plan designed to prevent a potential acquiror from gaining control of the Company without fairly compensating all of the Company's stockholders.

 

The Rights will initially trade with shares of the Company's Common Stock and will have no impact on the way in which the Company's shares are traded. Initially, there will be no separate certificates or market for the Rights.

 

The Rights will not separate from the Common Stock until the earlier of (1) ten business days after a public announcement that a person has acquired twenty percent (20%) (subject to certain exceptions as set forth in the Rights Plan) or more of the shares of the Company's Common Stock or (2) ten business days (or any later date determined by the Company's Board of Directors) after a person makes a tender or exchange offer for twenty percent (20%) (subject to certain exceptions as set forth in the Rights Plan) or more of the shares of the Company's Common Stock.

 

Many other public companies have adopted similar plans that can help Directors deflect coercive and inadequate offers.

 

A summary of the terms of the Rights is included with this letter.

 

Sincerely,

 

                                                                                    

 

Exhibit 3

 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

 PREFERRED STOCK

 

The Board of Directors (the "Board") of CHEMBIO DIAGNOSTICS, Inc. (the "Company") has declared a dividend distribution to its stockholders of record at the close of business on March 8, 2016, of one preferred stock purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), that will entitle the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Series D Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), at a purchase price of $20.00 per one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share, subject to adjustment.  The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Action Stock Transfer Corporation, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").  Initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Rights Agreement.

 

Separation and Distribution of Rights; Exercisability.  Initially, the Rights will be attached to all certificates representing shares of Common Stock then outstanding, and no separate Rights certificates will be distributed.  The Rights will separate from the Common Stock upon the earlier of:

 

	
·

 

	
ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (subject to certain exceptions discussed below and as set forth in the Rights Agreement) (such person is referred to as an "Acquiring Person"); or

 

	
·

 

	
ten (10) business days (or some later date as determined by the Board) following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning twenty percent (20%) or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (subject to exceptions as set forth in the Rights Agreement).

 

The date the Rights separate from the Common Stock is referred to as the "Distribution Date."

 

Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by and transferred with, and only with, the Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after March 8, 2016 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by those certificates.  Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of business on March 8, 2019, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.

 

As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights certificates will be mailed to the holders of record of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, after that, the separate Rights certificates will represent the Rights.  Except in connection with shares of Common Stock issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options under any employee plan or arrangements, or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of securities issued by the Company in the future, or as otherwise determined by the Board, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.

 

Flip-in Events.  Each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person and any associate or affiliate thereof) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in some circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right, as the case may be, if any person becomes an Acquiring Person (a "Flip-in Event").

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of any such event, all Rights that are, or (under some circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.

 

[For example, at a purchase price of $20.00 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by some related parties or transferees) following an event set forth in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $40.00 worth of Common Stock (or other consideration, as noted above) for $20.00.]

 

Flip-over events.  At any time following a public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set forth above) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of an acquiring company having a value equal to two times the purchase price of the Right if any of the following occur:

 

	
·

 

	
the Company enters into a merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation;

 

	
·

 

	
the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger pursuant to which all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property; or

 

	
·

 

	
more than 50% of the combined assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company and its subsidiaries is sold or transferred (in each case other than some consolidations with, mergers with and into, or sales of assets, cash flow or earning power by or to subsidiaries of the Company as specified in the Rights Agreement).

 

The events described in this paragraph are referred to as "Flip-over Events." Flip-in Events and Flip-over Events are referred to collectively as "Triggering Events."

 

Anti-dilution Adjustments; Fractional Shares.  The applicable purchase price payable, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, and the number of applicable Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution:

 

	
·

 

	
in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, Preferred Stock;

 

	
·

 

	
if the holders of Preferred Stock are granted rights, options or warrants to subscribe for the applicable Preferred Stock or securities convertible into the applicable Preferred Stock at less than the current market price of the applicable Preferred Stock; or

 

	
·

 

	
upon the distribution to holders of Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness, cash (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends), assets (other than dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to in the bullet point immediately above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision or combination of Common Stock.  With some exceptions, no adjustment in the purchase price relating to a Right will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the purchase price relating to the Right.

 

No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Preferred Stock) and, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, the Company may make an adjustment in cash based on the market price of the Preferred Stock on the trading date immediately prior to the date of exercise.

 

Exchange of the Rights.  At any time after the occurrence of a Flip-in Event and prior to the acquisition by a person or group of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, the Board may, without payment of the purchase price by the holder, exchange the Rights, in whole or in part, as follows:

 

	
·

 

	
one Right (other than the Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or group, which will become void) for one-half the number of shares of Common Stock, two one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or shares or other units of other property for which a Right is exercisable immediately prior to the time of the action of the Board to exchange the Rights.

 

Redemption of the Rights.  At any time until a person has become an Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Rights at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, shares of Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board and subject to adjustment).  Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of these Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.

 

No Rights as Stockholder.  Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

Amendment of the Rights Agreement.  Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board at any time before a person becomes an Acquiring Person.  At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board only if the amendment does not adversely affect the interest of holders of Rights (excluding the interest of any Acquiring Person) or cause the Rights to become redeemable again.

 

Certain Anti-takeover Effects.  The Rights approved by the Board are designed to protect and maximize the value of the outstanding equity interests in the Company in the event of an unsolicited attempt by an acquirer to take over the Company, in a manner or on terms not approved by the Board. Takeover attempts frequently include coercive tactics to deprive the Board and its stockholders of a full opportunity to evaluate an offer in light of the long term prospects of the Company. The Rights have been declared by the Board in order to deter such tactics.

 

The Rights are not intended to prevent all takeovers of the Company and will not do so. Since, subject to the restrictions described above, the Company may redeem the Rights prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business combination approved by the Board.

 

The Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the Board, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights.

 

A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Rights Agent.  This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exhibit 4

 

RIGHTS AGENT FEES

 [RESERVED]

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