Document:

Exhibit 4.1

 

Rights Agreement between Bank of Marin Bancorp and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent

 

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2017 between Bank of Marin Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

 

Pursuant to this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share (as therein and hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding on July 23, 2017 (the “Record Date”), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions as set forth herein, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Final Expiration Date (as such terms were therein and are hereinafter defined).

 

This Agreement is intended to replace that previous “Rights Agreement” dated as of July 2, 2007, by and between the Company and Bank of Marin, a California corporation (the “Prior Rights Agreement”).  By their terms, the Prior Rights Agreement and its related rights will terminate on July 23, 2017.

 

Accordingly, 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 (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner (as such term is hereinafter defined) of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding (other than as the result of a Permitted Offer (as such term is hereinafter defined)), but shall not include the Company, any Subsidiary (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company (including without limitation the Employee Plans) or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or of any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, provided, however, that the term “Acquiring Person” shall not include any Grandfathered Person (as such term is hereinafter defined), unless such Grandfathered Person subsequently becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than the Grandfathered Percentage (as such term is hereinafter defined) of the Common Shares of the Company; and provided, further, that any person who first obtains the written approval of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company for the acquisition of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company and therefore accumulates at least 10% of the Common Shares, within six months of the date of such written approval shall not be an “Acquiring Person.” Any Grandfathered Person who subsequently becomes the 

 

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Beneficial Owner of less than 10% of the Common Shares of the Company shall cease to be a Grandfathered Person, except where such Grandfathered Person’s ownership percentage becomes less than 10% due solely to the issuance of additional securities by the Company and not due in whole or in part to sales, gifts or other dispositions of Common Shares by such Grandfathered Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” as the result of either (x) an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares outstanding, increases the proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by such Person to 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company (except as provided above for Grandfathered Persons who may acquire up to the Grandfathered Percentage), then such Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” or (y) if (i) within 8 days after such Person would otherwise have become an Acquiring Person (but for the operation of this subclause y), such Person notifies the Board of Directors that such Person did so inadvertently and (ii) within 5 days after such notification, such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than 10% of the outstanding Common Shares or, if the Person is a Grandfathered Person, such Person is the Beneficial Owner of less than the Grandfathered Percentage.

 

(b)         “Adjustment Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

 

(c)          “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

(d)         A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner”, and to have “Beneficial Ownership” of, and to “Beneficially Own”, (i) any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed to be the beneficial owner pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement , (ii) any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to become the beneficial owner (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise, (iii) any securities which are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) with whom such Person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding to act together for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company or which are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person (or any Affiliate or Associate thereof) is or would be presumed to be “acting in concert” within the meaning of the Change in Bank Control Act, 12 USC section 1817(j) and the regulations thereunder and (iv) solely for purposes of determining whether any Person is an Acquiring Person, any securities that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates are determined to Constructively Own; provided, however, that a Person shall not be 

 

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deemed the “Beneficial Owner”, or to have “Beneficial Ownership” of, or to “Beneficially Own”, any security (A) solely because such security has been tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted for payment or exchange or (B) solely because such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, unless such power (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any similar provision of a comparable or successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer or director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of any other Person by virtue of any actions that such officer or director takes in such capacity. For purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial Owner shall be deemed outstanding.

 

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

 

(f)           “Close of business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such date is not a Business Day it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

(g)          “Common Shares” when used with reference to the Company shall mean the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company. “Common Shares” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

 

(h)         A Person shall be determined to “Constructively Own” shares of Common Stock in respect of which such Person has a Synthetic Long Position, calculated in the manner set forth below, if the Board of Directors, by a majority vote, determines that such Person is seeking to use the existence of such Synthetic Long Position, in combination with other securities Beneficially Owned by such Person, for the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Company. The number of shares of Common Stock in respect of a Synthetic Long Position that may be determined to be “Constructively Owned” is the notional or other number of shares of Common Stock in respect of such Synthetic Long Position that is specified in a filing by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates with the Securities and Exchange Commission or in the documentation evidencing such Synthetic Long Position as the basis upon which the value or settlement amount of such right or derivative, or the opportunity of the holder of such right or derivative to profit or share in any profit, is to be calculated in whole or in part and, in any case, including if no such number of shares of Common Stock is specified in any filing or documentation, as determined by the Board of Directors to be the number of shares of Common Stock to which such Synthetic Long Position relates.

 

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(i)             “Current Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iv) hereof.

 

(j)            “Distribution Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

 

(k)         “Employee Plans” shall mean any Employee Stock Ownership Plan, 401(k) Plan or other tax-qualified employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(l)             “Final Expiration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.

 

(m)     “Grandfathered Percentage” shall mean, with respect to any Grandfathered Person (as such term is hereinafter defined), the percentage of the outstanding Common Shares that such Grandfathered Person beneficially owned on July 23, 2017, plus ten (10) percentage points.

 

(n)         “Grandfathered Person” shall mean any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person was, on July 23, 2017, the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the Common Shares of the Company outstanding on such date unless such shares were acquired by the Person in contravention of the Prior Rights Agreement.

 

(o)         “Permitted Offer” shall mean a tender or exchange offer which is for all outstanding Common Shares at a price and on terms determined, prior to the purchase of shares under such tender or exchange offer, by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not Acquiring Persons or Affiliates, Associates, nominees or representatives of an Acquiring Person, to be adequate (taking into account all factors that such directors deem relevant including, without limitation, prices that could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and otherwise in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders (other than the Person or any Affiliates or Associate thereof on whose behalf the offer is being made) taking into account all factors that such directors may deem relevant.

 

(p)         “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, trust, association, partnership, joint venture or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

 

(q)         “Preferred Shares” shall mean shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Determination for Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(r)            “Principal Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

 

(s)           “Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

 

(t)            “Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.

 

(u)         “Registered Common Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(b) hereof.

 

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(v)         “Shares Acquisition Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or such earlier date as a majority of the directors of the Company shall become aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.

 

(w)       “Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iv) hereof.

 

(x)         “Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

(y)         “Substitution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iv) hereof.

 

(z)          “Synthetic Long Position” shall mean any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right swap agreement or other security, contract right or derivative position, whether or not presently exercisable, that has an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or other mechanism at a price related to the value of Common Stock or a value determined in whole or part with reference to, or derived in whole or in part from, the value of Common Stock and that increases in value as the value of Common Stock increases or that provides to the holder an opportunity, directly or indirectly, to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase in the value of Common Stock, in any case without regard to whether (i) such derivative conveys any voting rights in such securities to such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, (ii) such derivative is required to be, or capable of being, settled through delivery of such securities, or (iii) such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of such derivative. A Synthetic Long Position shall not include any interests, rights, options or other securities set forth in Rule 16a-1(c)(1)-(5) or (7) promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act.

 

(aa)                          “Trading Day” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iv) hereof.

 

(bb)                          A “Trigger Event” shall be deemed to have occurred upon any Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becoming an Acquiring Person.

 

SECTION 2.                                                                            APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT

 

The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms and conditions), 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 upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agent. In the event the Company appoints one or more co-rights agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-Rights Agent shall be as the Company shall reasonably determine, provided that such duties and determination are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that

 

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contemporaneously with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent in writing thereof.

 

SECTION 3.                            ISSUE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES

 

(a)                                 Until the earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth Business Day after the Shares Acquisition Date, or (ii) the tenth Business Day after the commencement by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company (including without limitation the Employee Plans) or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of, or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company (including without limitation the Employee Plans) or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares aggregating 10% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares (irrespective of whether any Common Shares are actually purchased pursuant to such offer) (including any such date which is after the date of this Agreement and prior to the issuance of the Rights) (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person), (the earliest of such dates being herein referred to as the “Distribution Date”), (x) the Rights will be evidenced (subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for Common Shares or book entry Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates or book entry shares, as applicable, shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, and (y) the right to receive Right Certificates will be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute, the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested to do so by the Company and provided with all necessary information and documentation, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Rights Agent, send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the shares of Common Stock, a Right Certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a “Right Certificate”), evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm the same in writing within two (2) Business Days.  Until such written notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred.

 

(b)                                 On the Record Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter, the Company will send a copy of a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Summary of Rights”), by first-class, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of Common Shares as of the close of business on the Record Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company. With respect to Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by certificates registered in the names of the holders thereof regardless of whether a copy of the Summary of Rights is attached thereto, or by the book entry shares, as applicable. Until the Distribution Date

 

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(or the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date), the transfer of any Common Shares outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights attached thereto, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares.

 

(c)                                  Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them substantially the following legend:

 

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement between Bank of Marin Bancorp and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (or any successor Rights Agent) , as Rights Agent, dated as of July 23, 2017, 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 executive offices of Bank of Marin Bancorp. 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. Bank of Marin Bancorp will mail to the holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement, Rights issued to any Person who becomes an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) may become null and void.

 

With respect to any book entry shares, a legend in substantially similar form will be included in a notice to the record holder of such shares in accordance with applicable law.  With respect to such certificates and notices for book entry shares containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificates or book entry shares shall be evidenced by such certificates or book entry shares alone, and the transfer of any such Common Shares shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares. In the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with such Common Shares while they are not outstanding.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, neither the omission of a legend nor the failure to deliver the notice of such legend required hereby shall affect the enforceability of any part of this Agreement or the rights of any holder of Rights.

 

SECTION 4                               FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES

 

The Right Certificates (and the forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate which shall not affect the 

 

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rights, duties, liabilities, protections or responsibilities of the Rights Agent hereunder 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 or other organization on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share set forth therein (the “Purchase Price”), but the number of such one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.

 

SECTION 5                               COUNTERSIGNATURE AND REGISTRATION

 

The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Executive Vice Presidents, either manually or by facsimile signature and shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by facsimile signature, by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not such an officer. In case any authorized signatory of the Rights Agent who has countersigned any Right Certificate ceases to be an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent before issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificate, nevertheless, may be issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who countersigned such Right Certificate had not ceased to be an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent; and any Right Certificate may be countersigned on behalf of the Rights Agent by any person who, at the actual date of the countersignature of such Right Certificate, is properly authorized to countersign such Right Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Rights Agreement any such person was not so authorized.

 

Following the Distribution Date, upon receipt by the Rights Agent of notice to that effect and all other relevant information and documents referred to in Section 3(a), the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office or offices designated for such purpose, books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the date of each of the Right Certificates.

 

SECTION 6                               TRANSFER, SPLIT UP, COMBINATION AND EXCHANGE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES; MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN RIGHT CERTIFICATES

 

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Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any time after the close of business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates, entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate or Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose., along with a signature guarantee (if required) and such other and further documentation as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Right Certificate until the registered holder has properly completed and duly signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Right Certificate and has provided such additional evidence, as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request.  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 Right Certificates. The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Rights Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made, and the Rights Agent shall promptly forward any such sum collected by it to the Company or to such Persons as the Company may specify by written notice. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested.

 

Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them along with such other and further documentation as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request  and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable fees and expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make, execute and deliver a new Right Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for countersignature and delivery to the registered holder in lieu of the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.

 

SECTION 7                               EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE; EXPIRATION DATE OF RIGHT

 

(a)  The registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein) in whole or in part at any time after the Distribution Date upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed (with such signature duly guaranteed, if required), to the Rights Agent at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price for each one

 

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one-hundredth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights are exercised and an amount equal to any tax or charge required to be paid under Section 9, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the close of business on July 23, 2022 (the “Final Expiration Date”), (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof (the “Redemption Date”), or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided in Section 24 hereof.

 

(b)  The Purchase Price for each one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share pursuant to the exercise of a Right shall initially be $90.00, shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof and shall be payable at the sole election of the holder of the Right in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.

 

(c)  Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and an amount equal to any transfer applicable tax or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof, by cash, certified check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes its transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the depository agent depository receipts representing such number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with the depository agent) and the Company hereby directs the depository agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates or depository receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when necessary to comply with this Rights Agreement, after receipt, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.

 

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

 

(e)          The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares the number of Preferred Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with this Section 7.

 

SECTION 8                               CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHT CERTIFICATES

 

All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the

 

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Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

 

SECTION 9                               AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED SHARES

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 10                        PREFERRED SHARES RECORD DATE

 

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

 

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SECTION 11                        ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE, NUMBER OF SHARES OR NUMBER OF RIGHTS

 

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

 

(a)(i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were open, such holder of any Right would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.

 

(ii)                                  Subject to Section 24 of this Agreement, in the event:

 

(A)       a Trigger Event shall have occurred (other than through an acquisition described in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (a)); or

 

(B)       during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate thereof,

 

each holder of a Right shall thereafter have a right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of the Company (such number of shares being referred to herein as the “Adjustment Shares”) as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (y) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Company’s Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of the earliest of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) above.

 

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From and after the occurrence of the earliest of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) above, any Rights that are or were acquired or are or were beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Associate or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be null and void and any holder of such Rights (including any subsequent transferee) shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any provision of this Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate thereof whose Rights would be null and void pursuant to the preceding sentence or to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to any such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate shall be canceled.

 

(iii)                               The right to buy Common Shares of the Company pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (a) shall not arise as a result of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person through a purchase of Common Shares pursuant to a tender offer made in the manner prescribed by Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however, that such tender offer shall provide for the acquisition of all of the outstanding Common Shares held by any Person other than such Person and its Affiliates or Associates at a price and on terms determined by at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person, after receiving advice from one or more investment or financial advisers, to be (A) fair to shareholders (taking into account all factors which such members of the Board deem relevant including, without limitation, prices which could reasonably be achieved if the Company or its assets were sold on an orderly basis designed to realize maximum value) and (B) otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, employees, customers and communities in which the Company does business.

 

(iv)                              In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), 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 being hereinafter referred to as the “Spread”), and (B) with respect to each Right, make adequate provision to substitute for such unavailable Adjustment Shares either (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) other equity securities of the Company, including without limitation, Preferred Shares, (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having, together with the Adjustment Shares issued upon exercise of such Right, an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon the advice of a reputable investment banking firm selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, if, within 30 days following the date of the occurrence of the earliest of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) above, the Company shall have not made adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above, then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, Common Shares (to the extent such shares are available) and then, if necessary, cash or Preferred Shares, which shares and/or cash have an

 

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aggregate value equal to the Spread. If the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional Common Shares could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, the 30-day period set forth above may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than 120 days following the date of the occurrence of the earliest of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) above, in order that the Company may seek shareholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such period, as it may be extended, hereinafter referred to as the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company determines that action need be taken pursuant to the first and/or second sentences of this Section 11(a)(iv), the Company (x) shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights, and (y) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares and/or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such first sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect, in each case with simultaneous written notice to the Rights Agent. For purposes of this Section 11(a)(iv), the value of the Common Shares shall be the current per share market price (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) per Common Share on the date of the occurrence of the earliest of the events described in clauses (A) and (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) above.(b)In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (“equivalent preferred shares”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares (as defined in Section 11(d)) 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 Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares 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 Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible). In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. Preferred Shares 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 record date is fixed; and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.(c)In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a

 

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consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the Preferred Shares. 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 again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “current per share market price” of any security (a “Security” for the purpose of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 20 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a dividend or distribution on such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such Security and prior to the expiration of 20 Trading Days after the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last reported trade in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”) or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. 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.

 

For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “current per share market price” of the Preferred Shares shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred Shares are not publicly traded, the “current per share market price” of the Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) (appropriately adjusted to reflect any

 

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stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one hundred. If neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so listed or traded, “current per share market price” shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.(e)No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one ten-thousandth of a Preferred Share or one one-hundredth of any other share or security, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any Rights.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(i)             The Company may elect on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights, in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-hundredth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(l)             In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares 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 upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

 

(m)     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 it in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or

 

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issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section 11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such shareholders.

 

(n)         The Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, at any time after the Distribution Date, (i) consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o)), (ii) permit or cause any Person to consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company (other than a Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that complies with Section 11(o)), or (iii) sell or otherwise transfer (or permit any Subsidiary to sell or transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person or Persons (other than the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries in one or more transactions each of which complies with Section 11(o)), if at the time of or immediately after such consolidation, merger or sale there are any rights, warrants or other instruments or securities outstanding or agreements in effect that would substantially diminish or otherwise eliminate the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 12                        CERTIFICATE OF ADJUSTED PURCHASE PRICE OR NUMBER OF SHARES

 

Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the Company shall  (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof, or if prior to the Distribution

 

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Date, disclose a brief summary in a filing under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such disclosure shall not affect the legality or validity of such adjustment.  The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustments or statements therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment or event unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

 

SECTION 13                        CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OR TRANSFER OF ASSETS OR EARNING POWER

 

(a) If, following the Distribution Date, directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and into, any other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property, (iii) any Person shall acquire all or a majority of the Common Shares pursuant to a statutory plan of exchange, or (iv) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions, assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that (A) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares of the Principal Party (as hereinafter defined), not subject to any liens, encumbrances, rights of first refusal or other adverse claims, as shall equal the result obtained by (1) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and dividing that product by (2) 50% of the then current per share market price of the Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) of such Principal Party on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer; (B) such Principal Party shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement; (C) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to such Principal Party, it being specifically intended that the provisions of Section 11 shall apply only to such Principal Party after the first occurrence of an event described in this Section 13(a); (D) such Principal Party shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of the Rights; and (E) the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) shall be of no further effect following the first occurrence of any event described in this Section 13(a).

 

(b)         “Principal Party” shall mean:

 

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(i)                                     in the case of any transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 13(a), (A) the Person that is the issuer of any securities into which Common Shares of the Company are converted in such merger, consolidation or for which they are exchanged in such statutory plan of exchange, or, if there is more than one such issuer, the issuer of Common Shares that has the highest aggregate current market price (determined in accordance with Section 11(d)) and (B) if no securities are so issued, the Person that is the other party to such merger, consolidation or statutory plan of exchange, or, if there is more than one such Person, the Person the Common Shares of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined in accordance with Section 11(d)); and

 

(ii)                                  in the case of any transaction described in clause (iv) of Section 13(a), the Person that is the party receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions, or, if each Person that is a party to such transaction or transactions receives the same portion of the assets or earning power transferred pursuant to such transaction or transactions or if the Person receiving the largest portion of the assets or earning power cannot be determined, whichever Person the Common Shares of which has the highest aggregate current market price (determined in accordance with Section 11(d));

 

provided, however, that in any such case, (A) if the Common Shares of such Person are not at such time and have not been continuously over the preceding twelve-month period registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (“Registered Common Shares”), or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person that has Registered Common Shares outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to such other Person; (B) if the Common Shares of such Person are not Registered Common Shares or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person but is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of another Person which has Registered Common Shares outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to the ultimate parent entity of such first-mentioned Person; (C) if the Common Shares of such Person are not Registered Common Shares or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and one or more of such other Persons has Registered Common Shares outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to whichever of such other Persons is the issuer of the Registered Common Shares having the highest aggregate current market price (determined in accordance with Section 11(d)); and (D) if the Common Shares of such Person are not Registered Common Shares or such Person is not a corporation, and such Person is directly or indirectly controlled by more than one Person, and none of such other Persons have Registered Common Shares outstanding, “Principal Party” shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the corporation having the greatest shareholders’ equity or, if no such ultimate parent entity is a corporation, shall refer to whichever ultimate parent entity is the entity having the greatest net assets.

 

(c)          The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, statutory plan of exchange, sale or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and the Principal Party shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that (i) such Principal Party shall, upon consummation of such consolidation, merger, statutory plan of exchange or sale or transfer of assets or earning power, assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 13, (ii) all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Principal Party upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived, 

 

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(iii) any provision of the authorized securities of such Principal Party or of its charter, bylaws or other instruments governing its corporate affairs which would obligate such Principal Party to issue in connection with, or as a consequence of, the consummation of a transaction referred to in Section 13(a), Common Shares of such Principal Party at less than the then-current per share market price (determined in accordance with Section 11(d)(i)) or securities exercisable for, or convertible into, such Common Shares at less than such then-current per share market price (other than to the holders of Rights pursuant to this Section 13) have been waived or canceled, and (iv) such transaction shall not result in a default by such Principal Party under this Agreement and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of any consolidation, merger, statutory plan of exchange or sale or transfer of assets or earning power referred to in Section 13(a), such Principal Party will:

 

(A)       if the Rights or the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, prepare and file a registration statement under such act, with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) until the Final Expiration Date of the Rights, and similarly comply with applicable state securities laws:

 

(B)       use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights or to meet the eligibility requirements for quotation of the Rights and such securities on Nasdaq or other system then in use; and

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 13 shall not be applicable to a transaction described in Section 13(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) if: (i) such transaction is consummated with a Person or Persons who acquired Common Shares pursuant to a tender offer described in Section 11(a)(iii) (or with a wholly-owned Subsidiary of any such Person or Persons), (ii) the price per Common Share offered in such transaction is not less than 

 

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the price per Common Share paid to all holders of Common Shares whose shares were purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, and (iii) the form of consideration being offered to the remaining holders of Common Shares pursuant to such transaction is the same as the form of consideration paid pursuant to such tender offer. Upon consummation of any such transaction contemplated by this Section 13(e), all Rights shall expire.

 

SECTION 14                        FRACTIONAL RIGHTS AND FRACTIONAL SHARES

 

(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a), the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any day shall be the last sale price, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, 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 reported trade in the over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of the Company. If on any such date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be used.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)  Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares is to be made by the Rights Agent under any section of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of, any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares under any section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.

 

SECTION 15                        RIGHTS OF ACTION

 

All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under any section of this Agreement, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Right 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 Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the Common Stock), may, in his own behalf and for his own benefit, enforce this Agreement, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce this Agreement, or otherwise enforce or act in respect of his right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, such Common Stock) in the manner provided in such Right 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 by the Company and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations hereunder of the Company.

 

SECTION 16                        AGREEMENT OF RIGHT HOLDERS

 

Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and with every other holder of a Right that:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 17                        RIGHT CERTIFICATE HOLDER NOT DEEMED A SHAREHOLDER

 

No holder of any Right Certificate, by reason of being a holder of such Right Certificate, shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right Certificate, by reason of being a holder of such Right Certificate, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 18                        CONCERNING THE RIGHTS AGENT

 

The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with a fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, to reimburse the Rights Agent for all of its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing its rights hereunder. The provisions provided for under this Section 18 and Section 20, below, shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent. The costs and expenses incurred in enforcing this right of indemnification shall be paid by the Company.

 

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The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and 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 acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder, in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Common Stock or for other securities of the Company (including in the case of uncertificated securities, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership), instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, instruction, 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 21 hereof. The Rights Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any event of which it was supposed to receive notice thereof hereunder, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take action in connection therewith, unless and until it has received such notice in writing.

 

SECTION 19                        MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OR CHANGE OF NAME OF RIGHTS AGENT

 

Any corporation or limited liability company or other entity into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or limited liability company or other entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation or limited liability company succeeding to the stock transfer or other shareholder services business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation or limited liability company or other entity would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21. The purchase of all or substantially all of the Rights Agent’s assets employed in the performance of transfer agent activities shall be deemed a merger or consolidation for purposes of this Section 19. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 

In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name 

 

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or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in this Agreement.

 

SECTION 20                        RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT.

 

The Rights Agent undertakes to perform only the duties and obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent shall perform its duties and obligations hereunder upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, or, prior to the Distribution Date, Common Stock, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:

 

(a)  Legal Counsel. The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel selected by it (who may be legal counsel for the Company or an employee or legal counsel of the Rights Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

 

(b)  Certificates as to Facts or Matters. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering, or omitting to take 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 a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel or any Vice President of the Company and such other officers of the Company as the Board may designate and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate. The Rights Agent shall have no duty to act without such a certificate as set forth in this Section 20(b).

 

(c)  Standard of Care. The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees paid by the Company to the Rights Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damages, and regardless of the form of action.

 

(d)  Reliance on Agreement and Right Certificates. 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

 

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in the Right Certificates (including in the case of Book Entry Shares, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership), except as to its countersignature thereof, or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

 

(e)  No Responsibility as to Certain Matters. The Rights Agent shall not have any liability for or 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 legality or validity or execution of any Right Certificate (including in the case of Book Entry Shares, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership), except its countersignature thereof; nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to satisfy any condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be liable or responsible for modification by or order of any court, tribunal, or governmental authority in connection with the foregoing, any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 13) or any adjustment required under the provisions of Sections 3, 11, 13, 23 or, 27 or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right Certificates after receipt of a certificate pursuant to Section 12 describing any such adjustment, upon which the Rights Agent may rely); nor shall it be responsible for any determination by the Board of the current market value of the Rights or Series A Preferred or Common Stock pursuant to the provisions of Section 14 hereof; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Series A Preferred or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to whether any Series A Preferred or other securities will, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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

 

(g)   Authorized Company Officers. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept written instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder and certificates delivered pursuant to any provision hereof from any person believed by the Rights Agent to be from any one of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel or any Vice President of the Company and such other officers of the Company as the Board may designate, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties under this Agreement, and such advice or instructions shall provide full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent, and it shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the written advice or instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for these instructions. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent advice or instructions received by any such officer. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any 

 

27

 

action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent with respect to its duties or obligations under this Agreement and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after (but not including) the date specified in such application (which date must not be less than 10 Business Days after, but not including, the date on which any such director or officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such director or officer has consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or suffering any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent has received, in response to such application, written instructions with respect to the proposed action or omission specifying a different action to be taken, suffered or omitted to be taken.

 

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

 

(i)  Reliance on Attorneys and Agents. 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, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company, to the holders of the Rights or any other Person resulting from any such act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct, absent gross negligence or bad faith in the selection and continued employment thereof (which gross negligence or bad faith must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

(j)  No Risk of Own Funds. 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 any of its rights or powers if it believes that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(k)  Incomplete Certificate. If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been properly completed to certify the holder is not an Acquiring Person (or a Related Person of an Acquiring Person), or any other actual or suspected irregularity exists, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company; provided, however that Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays arising from the duties under this Section 20(k).

 

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(l)  Rights Holders List. At any time and from time to time after the Distribution Date, upon the request of the Company, the Rights Agent shall promptly deliver to the Company a list, as of the most recent practicable date (or as of such earlier date as may be specified by the Company), of the holders of record of Rights.

 

(m)  No Interest. The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any holders of Rights or any holders of shares of Common Stock for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(n)  No Notice. The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any event or condition hereunder, including any event or condition that may require action by the Rights Agent, unless the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing of such event or condition by the Company, and all notices or other instruments required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Rights Agent must, in order to be effective, be received by the Rights Agent as specified in Section 26 hereof, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Rights Agent may conclusively assume no such event or condition exists.

 

SECTION 21                        CHANGE OF RIGHTS AGENT

 

The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company and in the event that the Rights Agent or one of its Affiliates is not also the transfer agent for the Company, to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred known to the Rights Agent, as applicable. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred, as applicable, by registered or certified mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the resigning, removed, or incapacitated Rights Agent shall remit to the Company, or to any successor Rights Agent designated by the Company, all books, records, funds (other than any funds owed to the Rights Agent or its Affiliates under this Agreement or under any other agreement or arrangement with the Company or its Affiliates), certificates or other documents or instruments of any kind then in its possession which were acquired by such resigning, removed or incapacitated Rights Agent in connection with its services as Rights Agent hereunder (subject to applicable law and its document retention policies or conventions and industry standards). Following notice of such removal, resignation or incapacity, the Company shall appoint a successor to such Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent.

 

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Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a Person, other than a natural person, organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has, along with its Affiliates, at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus, along with its affiliates, of at least $50 million, or (b) an Affiliate of a Person described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose, but such predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing; and, except as the context herein otherwise requires, such successor Rights Agent shall be deemed to be the “Rights Agent” for all purposes of this Agreement. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment the Company shall mail notice thereof in writing to the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock and/or Series A Preferred, as applicable, and, following the Distribution Date, mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 22        ISSUANCE OF NEW RIGHT CERTIFICATES

 

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 23        REDEMPTION

 

(a)   The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to the Distribution Date, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the “Redemption Price”); provided, however, that if, following the occurrence of a Shares Acquisition Date and following the expiration of the right of redemption hereunder but prior to any event described in clause (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) or clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 13(a) hereof, (i) a Person who is an Acquiring Person shall have transferred or otherwise disposed of a number of shares of Common Shares in one transaction or series of transactions, not directly or indirectly involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which did not result in the occurrence of an event described in clause (B) of Section 11(a)(ii) or clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of Section 13(a) hereof such that such Person is thereafter a Beneficial Owner of less than 10% of the outstanding Common Shares, and (ii) there are no other Persons, immediately following the occurrence of the event described in clause (i), who are Acquiring Persons, then 

 

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the right of redemption shall be reinstated and thereafter be subject to the provisions of this Section 23. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of Directors may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. The Company may, in its discretion, round up the redemption price to be paid to any holder of Rights to the nearest whole cent.

 

(b)   Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 23, 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. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such redemption (with prompt written notice to the Rights Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity of such redemption. Within 10 days after such action of the Board of Directors ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to all 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 Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made.

 

SECTION 24        EXCHANGE

 

(a)  The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company (including without limitation the Employee Plans) or of any such Subsidiary, or of any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.

 

(b)Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company ordering the exchange of any Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24 and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give reasonably detailed written notice of any such exchange to the Rights Agent and shall promptly 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. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of such 

 

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Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.

 

(c)   In any exchange pursuant to this Section 24, the Company, at its option, may substitute Preferred Shares (or equivalent preferred shares, as such term is defined in Section 11(b) hereof) for Common Shares exchangeable for Rights, at the initial rate of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or equivalent preferred share) for each Common Share, as appropriately adjusted to reflect adjustments in the voting rights of the Preferred Shares pursuant to the terms thereof, so that the fraction of a Preferred Share delivered in lieu of each Common Share shall have the same voting rights as one Common Share.

 

(d)   In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common Shares or Preferred Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause all such action to be taken as may be necessary to authorize additional Common Shares or Preferred Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights.

 

(e)   The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the purposes of this paragraph (e), the current market value of a whole Common Share shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.

 

SECTION 25        NOTICE OF CERTAIN EVENTS

 

In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, 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 or more transactions, of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or 

 

32

 

consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, 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 10 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.

 

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

 

SECTION 26        NOTICES

 

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

 

	
Bank of Marin Bancorp
    
	
504 Redwood Boulevard, Suite 100
    
	
Novato, California 94947
    
	
Attn: Corporate Secretary
    

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 and Section 25, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if sent in writing by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company) as follows:

 

	
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
    
	
250 Royall Street
    
	
Canton, MA 02021
    
	
Attention: Client Services
    

 

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

 

33

 

the Company or the transfer agent or registrar for the Common Stock; provided that prior to the Distribution Date a filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is publicly accessible on the EDGAR Company Filing System shall constitute sufficient notice to the holders of securities of the Company, including the Rights, for purposes of this Agreement and no other notice need be given.

 

SECTION 27        SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS

 

For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company and the Rights Agent may in in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights or Common Stock. From and after the time that the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, from time  to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein or (ii) to make any other changes or provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, including but not limited to extending the Final Expiration Date; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights as such (other than an Acquiring Person or a Related Person of an Acquiring Person), and no such supplement or amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this Agreement again to become amendable as to an Acquiring Person or a Related Person of an Acquiring Person, other than in accordance with this sentence; provided further, that the right of the Board to extend the Distribution Date shall not require any amendment or supplement hereunder. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company and, if requested by the Rights Agent, an opinion of counsel which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be required to execute any supplement or amendment to this Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Rights Agent.

 

SECTION 28        REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file, if deemed necessary by the Company, such registration statements and other filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state, with respect to any securities purchasable upon the exercise of the Rights, and to permit the same 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 each case with simultaneous written notice to the Rights Agent. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights 

 

34

 

shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction unless the requisite qualification in such jurisdiction has been obtained.

 

SECTION 29        DETERMINATIONS AND ACTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board 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 to not redeem the Rights or to amend the Agreement).  In administering this Agreement and exercising the rights and powers specifically granted to the Board and to the Company hereunder, and in interpreting this Agreement and making any determination hereunder, the Board may consider any and all facts, circumstances or information it deems to be necessary, useful or appropriate. Without  limiting the rights of the Rights Agent under this Agreement, all such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations that are done or made by the Board,  in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights, as such, and all other parties to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Rights Agent is entitled always to assume the Company’s Board of Directors acted in good faith and shall be fully protected and incur no liability in reliance thereon.

 

SECTION 30        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 31        BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT

 

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

 

SECTION 32        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 if such excluded provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the 

 

35

 

Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

 

SECTION 33        GOVERNING LAW

 

This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of California and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State ; provided, however, that all provisions regarding the rights, duties, liabilities and obligations of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of New York.

 

SECTION 34        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. A signature to this Agreement executed and/or transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect, and enforceability as an original signature.

 

SECTION 35        DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS

 

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

 

SECTION 36        FORCE MAJEURE

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.

 

36

 

Signature Page to Rights Agreement

 

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

 

	
 
    	
BANK OF MARIN BANCORP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/   Russell A. Colombo
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Russell   A. Colombo, 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Computershare Trust   Company, N.A. as Rights Agent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/   Dennis Moccia
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Dennis Moccia, 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Manager, Contract   Administration
    
				

 

37

 

Exhibit A

 

Certificate of Determination for Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

 

A-1

 

CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION

 

SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED SHARES

OF

BANK OF MARIN

BANCORP

 

Pursuant to Section 401 of the Corporations Code of the State of California:

 

We, Russell A. Colombo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nancy Boatright, Corporate Secretary, of Bank of Marin Bancorp, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of California (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), do hereby certify as follows:

 

1.        On June 14, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted a resolution designating 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.

 

2.        No shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock have been issued.

 

3.        Pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the following resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Directors on June 14, 2007 creating the series of Preferred Stock designated as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

 

RESOLVED FURTHER, That in order to implement the Rights, a series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation be and hereby is created, and that the determination of the amount thereof and the voting powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of the shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, are as follows:

 

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:

 

“Paragraph 1. DESIGNATION AND AMOUNT. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 1,000,000 Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; PROVIDED, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Paragraph 2. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

 

(A)          Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds 

 

A-2

 

legally available for the purpose, dividends payable in cash (each payment date determined by the Board of Directors being referred to herein as a “Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the  first Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Paragraph 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock).

 

The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

 

Paragraph 3.   VOTING RIGHTS.  The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(A)          Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such an event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(B)          Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate of

 

A-3

 

Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of Determination creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock  and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.

 

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

 

Paragraph 4. CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

A-4

 

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

 

Paragraph 5. REACQUIRED SHARES. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or Certificate of Determination creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.

 

Paragraph 6. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received a minimum of $100.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

Paragraph 7. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, ETC. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or

 

A-5

 

otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock), then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

Paragraph 8. NO REDEMPTION. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

 

Paragraph 9. RANK.  The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock.

 

Paragraph 10.  AMENDMENT.  The Articles of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without, in addition to any other vote of shareholders required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.

 

Paragraph 11.  FRACTIONAL SHARES.  The Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.”

 

4.         We further declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the matters set forth in this certificate are true and correct of our own knowledge.

 

Executed on July 2, 2007 at Novato, California

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Russell   A. Colombo
    
	
 
    	
Russell   A. Colombo
    
	
 
    	
President   and Chief Executive Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Nancy Rinaldi Boatright
    
	
 
    	
Nancy   Rinaldi Boatright
    
	
 
    	
Corporate   Secretary
    

 

A-6

 

Exhibit B

 

Rights Certificate

 

B-1

 

FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE

 

Certificate No. R-       Rights

 

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER JULY 23, 2022 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.

 

RIGHT

CERTIFICATE BANK

OF MARIN

 

BANCORP

 

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 Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of July 6, 2017 (the “Rights Agreement”), between Bank of Marin Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,  a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., San Francisco time, on July 23, 2022 at the principal office of the Rights Agent, or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $90.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of July 23, 2017, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events.

 

This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates.   Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent.

 

This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right

 

B-2

 

Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred 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 Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Shares or shares of the Company’s Common Stock, no par value.

 

No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement. 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 shareholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

Dated as of          ,       .

 

	
ATTEST:
    	
 
    	
BANK   OF MARIN BANCORP
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Countersigned:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
COMPUTERSHARE   TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Authorized Signature
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

B-3

 

Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate 

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

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

 

	
FOR   VALUE RECEIVED 
    	
 
    
	
hereby   sells, assigns and transfers unto 
    	
 
    
	
 
    
	
(Please print name and address of transferee)
    
			

 

	
 
    

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

 

Dated:           ,       .

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature
    

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

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

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature
    

 

B-4

 

Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate - continued

 

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

 

(To be executed by the registered holder if such
 holder desires to exercise the Right Certificate.)

 

To Bank of Marin Bancorp:

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise                                       Rights  represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred 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 member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Signature
    

 

B-5

 

NOTICE

 

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

 

In the event the certification set forth above in the Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.

 

B-6

 

Exhibit C

 

Summary of Rights

 

C-1

 

SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE PREFERRED SHARES

 

On July 6, 2017, the Board of Directors of Bank of Marin Bancorp (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, no par value (the “Common Shares”), of the Company. The dividend was declared subject to certain conditions that have since been satisfied. The dividend was paid on July 23, 2017 (the “Record Date”), to the shareholders of record on that date. Each Right entitled the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at a price of $90.00 per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (the “Original Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights were set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of July 6, 2017 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

 

Initially, the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates representing Common Shares then outstanding, regardless of whether any such certificate has a copy of this Summary of Rights attached thereto, and no separate Right Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Shares and a Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) the tenth business day following the public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons have acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”); provided, however, a person or group holding 10% or more of the outstanding shares as of July 23, 2017, will become a “Grandfathered Person” and such Grandfathered Person will be treated as an Acquiring Person upon public announcement or knowledge by the Company’s Board of Directors that such Grandfathered Person has acquired beneficial ownership exceeding an additional 10% of the outstanding Common Shares; or (ii) the tenth business day following commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 10% or more of such outstanding Common Shares (unless the Company’s Board of Directors has approved the offer) (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person).

 

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date, upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares, will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of this Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights, The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution

 

C-2

 

Date. The Rights will expire on July 23, 2022 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or a subdivision, consolidation or combination of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

 

Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable Each Preferred Share will be entitled to a minimum preferential dividend payment of 100 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100.00 per share but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100 times the payment made per Common Share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

 

Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares’ dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.

 

In the event that (i) any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) during such time as there is an Acquiring Person, there shall be a reclassification of securities or a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or other transaction or series of transactions involving the Company which has the effect of increasing by more than 1% the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (each a “flip-in” event), proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares (or, in the event that there are insufficient authorized Common Shares, substitute consideration such as cash, property, or other securities of the Company, such as Preferred Stock) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.  In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are

 

C-3

 

sold (a “flip-over event”), proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of  the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

 

At any time after the acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).

 

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depository receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

At any time before the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). After the redemption period has expired, the Company’s rights of redemption may be reinstated if, prior to completion of certain recapitalizations, mergers or other business combinations, an Acquiring Person reduces its beneficial ownership to less than 10% of the outstanding Common Shares in a transaction or series of transactions not involving the Company. The redemption of the rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

 

The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the greater of (i) any percentage greater than the largest percentage of the outstanding Common Shares then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person or group of affiliated or associated persons (unless such person or group is excluded from the effect of such reduction) and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.

 

Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will not, by reason of being such a holder, have rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

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 Company. This summary description of the

 

C-4

 

Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

 

C-5EX-4.3

 Exhibit 4.3 

EXECUTION VERSION 
  

 
  

Gulfport Energy Corporation 

Issuer 
 6.625% Senior Notes Due
2023 
  
  

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 

Dated as of September 30, 2015 
  

 
 Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A. 
 Trustee 
  

 
  

 FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of September 30, 2015 among Gulfport
Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the New Subsidiary Guarantor (as defined below), and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the
“Trustee”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H : 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture, dated as of
April 21, 2015 (the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of the Company’s 6.625% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Securities”); 

WHEREAS, on April 21, 2015, the Company issued $350,000,000 in principal amount of Securities; 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Indenture, the Company is required to cause the subsidiary of the Company
listed on Annex A (the “New Subsidiary Guarantor”) to execute and deliver to the Trustee this Supplemental Indenture; 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01(4), the Company wishes to amend, without the consent of any Securityholder, the
Indenture to add a Subsidiary Guarantor; and 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Indenture, the Trustee,
the Company and the New Subsidiary Guarantor are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the New Subsidiary Guarantor and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the
holders of the Securities as follows: 
 1. Definitions; Construction. 

(a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 

(b) For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise herein expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(i) the terms and expressions used herein shall have the same meanings as corresponding terms and expressions used in the Indenture; and (ii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of
similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof. 

2. The New Subsidiary Guarantor. 

(a) In accordance with Sections 4.11 and 9.01(4) of the Indenture, the New Subsidiary Guarantor by its signature below hereby
becomes a party to the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor and unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally with 

 all other Subsidiary Guarantors, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the
full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Securities and
(ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other Guaranteed Obligations, in each case on the same terms and conditions as applicable to the other Subsidiary Guarantors set forth in the Indenture, including
those terms and conditions set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture, with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Subsidiary Guarantor. 

(b) The New Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees to all of the terms and conditions of the Indenture applicable to it as a Subsidiary Guarantor
thereunder. Each reference to a “Subsidiary Guarantor” in the Indenture shall be deemed to include the New Subsidiary Guarantor. 

3. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. 

4. Trustee Makes No Representation. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and the New Subsidiary Guarantor
and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture. 

5. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall
be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission
shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or
PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. 
 6. Effect of Headings. The Section headings
herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof. 
 [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS] 

  
 2 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed
as of the date first written above. 
  

					
	GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Aaron Gaydosik

		 	Name: Aaron Gaydosik
		 	Title: Chief Financial Officer
	
	GULFPORT BUCKEYE LLC
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ Aaron Gaydosik

		 	Name: Aaron Gaydosik
		 	Title: Chief Financial Officer

 [Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture] 

 
					
	WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
			
		 	By:	 	 /s/ John C. Stohlmann

		 	Name: John C. Stohlmann
		 	Title: Vice President

 [Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture] 

 Annex A 

New Subsidiary Guarantor 

Gulfport Buckeye LLC

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