SCHEDULE
14C INFORMATION STATEMENT
Information
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c)
of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Check
the
appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Information Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14c-5(d)(2))
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Definitive
Information Statement
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CAPE
COASTAL TRADING CORPORATION
(name
of
registrant as specified in the charter)
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of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
__________________________
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction
applies:
__________________________
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
$__________________
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Total
fee paid: $____________________
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
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box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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Amount
Previously Paid: _________________________________________
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.: _________________________
Filing
Party: ___________________________________________________
Date
Filed: ____________________________________________________
NOTICE
OF
ACTION TAKEN BY WRITTEN CONSENT
OF
THE
MAJORITY STOCKHOLDERS OF
CAPE
COASTAL TRADING CORPORATION
8550
West
Bryn Mawr, Suite 200
Chicago,
Illinois 60631
TO
BE
EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY ___, 2006
We
are not asking you for a Proxy and you are requested not to send us a
Proxy
Dear
Stockholder:
We
are
writing to give you notice of, and the attached Information Statement is being
distributed in connection with, an action by written consent of the majority
stockholders of Cape Coastal Trading Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company,” “we” or “us”), taken on January 12, 2006 which will be effective on
or about February ___,
2006.
The
purpose of this Information Statement is to inform the holders of record of
shares of Common Stock as of the close of business on the record date, January
12, 2006, that our board of directors has recommended and that a majority of
our
stockholders have provided written consent to ratify: (i) the 2005 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”), which was formerly approved and adopted by our
board of directors and our sole stockholder on December 15, 2005; and
(ii) the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of January ___,
2006, by and between the Company and a
Rights
Agent yet to be determined (the “Stockholder Protection Plan”), our entry
into which was formerly approved and adopted by our board of directors and
our
sole stockholder on December 15, 2005.
The
details of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection Plan, and other
important information, are set forth in the accompanying Information Statement.
All information regarding the 2005 Plan and Stockholder Protection Plan is
qualified by the text of such documents, which are attached to this Information
Statement as Appendix
A
and
Appendix
B,
respectively. Originally, our board of directors and our sole stockholder
unanimously approved the Company’s adoption of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder
Protection Plan on December 15, 2005; our stockholders’ ratification of the
adoption of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection Plan is expected to
become effective on or about February __, 2006.
Under
Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, action by stockholders
may
be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, by written consent of the
holders of outstanding common stock having not less than the minimum number
of
votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting at which
all
shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. On that basis, the
stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock
entitled to vote ratified the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection Plan.
No
other vote or stockholder action is required to ratify the original adoption
of
the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection Plan. You are hereby being provided
with notice of the ratification of the Company’s adoption of the 2005 Plan and
the Stockholder Protection Plan by less than unanimous written consent of the
stockholders of the Company.
No
action
is required by you. The accompanying Information Statement is furnished only
to
inform you of the ratification of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection
Plan that were approved on December 15, 2005, before such ratification takes
effect, in accordance with Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. This Information Statement is being mailed to you
on or
about January __, 2006.
| |
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| By order of the Board of Directors, |
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|
| /s/
Robert H. Tomlinson, Jr. |
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Robert
H. Tomlinson, Jr. |
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Chicago,
Illinois
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| President,
Chief
Executive Officer and Director |
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|
January
__,
2006
|
----------------------------------------
INFORMATION
STATEMENT REGARDING
ACTION
TAKEN BY WRITTEN CONSENT OF
MAJORITY
OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
CAPE
COASTAL TRADING CORPORATION
8550
West
Bryn Mawr, Suite 200
Chicago,
Illinois 60631
----------------------------------------
We
are not asking you for a Proxy and you are requested not to send us a
Proxy
This
Information Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Cape Coastal
Trading Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “we” or “us”), to
advise you of the ratification of the Company’s adoption of the 2005 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) and the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement
(the “Stockholder Protection Plan”) described herein, which have been ratified
by the written consent of stockholders owning a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company and entitled to vote thereon. These actions
were taken in accordance with the requirements of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (“DGCL”).
The
Company's board of directors (the “Board”) has determined that the close of
business on January 12, 2006 is the record date for the stockholders entitled
to
notice of the actions ratifying the Company’s adoption of the 2005 Plan and the
Stockholder Protection Plan.
Under
Section 228 of the DGCL and the Company's Bylaws, action by our stockholders
may
be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, by written consent of the
holders of outstanding capital stock having not less than the minimum number
of
votes that would be necessary to authorize the action at a meeting at which
all
shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. On that basis,
stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's
common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), entitled to vote
ratified the December 15, 2005 adoption of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder
Protection Plan. No other vote or stockholder action is required to approve
or
ratify these actions. You are hereby being provided with notice of the approval
of the foregoing actions by
less
than unanimous written consent of the stockholders of the Company. The
Information Statement is being delivered only to inform you of the corporate
actions described herein before they take effect, in accordance with Rule 14c-2
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
On
January 12, 2006, 12 holders of our Common Stock, including certain of the
directors and executive officers of the Company, who collectively were the
owners of record of 11,132,274 shares of our Common Stock, representing
approximately 57.4% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company,
delivered to the Company a written consent ratifying the Company’s adoption of
the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection Plan on December 15, 2005. As
such,
no vote or further action of the stockholders of the Company is required to
ratify or approve our adoption of either the 2005 Plan or the Stockholder
Protection Plan.
You
are
hereby being provided with notice of the ratification of the 2005 Plan and
the
Stockholder Protection Plan by less than unanimous written consent of the
stockholders of the Company. Under federal law, however, such ratification
of
the stockholders’ actions by written consent may not become effective until at
least twenty (20) days after this Information Statement has first been sent
to
stockholders.
The
executive offices of the Company are located at 8550 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago,
Illinois 60631, and our telephone number is 773-272-5000.
This
Information Statement will first be mailed to stockholders on or about January
___, 2006, and is being furnished to our stockholders for informational purposes
only.
Distribution
and Costs
We
will
pay all costs associated with the distribution of this Information Statement,
including the costs of printing and mailing. We will reimburse brokerage firms
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred
by them in sending this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of the
outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
We
will
only deliver one Information Statement to multiple stockholders sharing an
address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of such
stockholders. Upon written or oral request, we will promptly deliver a separate
copy of this Information Statement and any future annual reports and Information
Statements to any security holder at a shared address to which a single copy
of
this Information Statement was delivered, or deliver a single copy of this
Information Statement and any future annual reports and Information Statements
to any security holder or holders sharing an address to which multiple copies
are now delivered. You should direct any such requests to the following
address:
Cape
Coastal Trading Company
8550
West
Bryn Mawr, Suite 200
Chicago,
Illinois 60631
Attention:
Miguel Martinez, Jr., Vice President, Finance
Dissenters’
Rights of Appraisal
No
action
will be taken in connection with our stockholders’ ratification, or our original
adoption, of the 2005 Plan or the Stockholder Protection Plan by either our
Board or the stockholders who have provided their written consent to the actions
described in this Information Statement for which Delaware law or the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws provide any right of a stockholder to
dissent and obtain appraisal of or payment for such stockholder’s
shares.
Procedure
for Ratification of the 2005 Plan and the Stockholder Protection
Plan
We
are
incorporated in the State of Delaware. Under the DGCL, any action that may
be
taken at a meeting of the stockholders may also be taken without a meeting
and
without prior notice if the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote sign a written consent that sets forth the action so taken.
Prompt notice of the action so taken must be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing and who had the right to vote on the matter as
to
which consent had been solicited.
As
of
January 12, 2006, the record date for determination of the stockholders entitled
to receive this Information Statement, there were 19,399,334 shares of our
Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the amendment to
our
Certificate of Incorporation, if such action were to be taken at a meeting
of
our stockholders. The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote
for
each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our
stockholders.
ACTION
NUMBER 1
RATIFICATION
OF THE 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
On
December 15, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), our Board approved and adopted the
2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”). Also on December 15, 2005, the
2005 Plan was approved by the sole stockholder of the Company on that date.
These actions were announced in our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with
the
SEC on December 23, 2005. On January 12, 2006, the holders of a majority of
our
outstanding shares of Common Stock ratified the 2005 Plan. A copy of the 2005
Plan is attached as Appendix
A
to this
Information Statement.
The
2005
Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Company by attracting and
retaining exceptional employees, consultants, and directors (collectively
referred to as the “Participants”), and enabling such Participants to
participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. Under
the Plan, the Company may grant stock options, which are intended to qualify
as
“incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Incentive Stock Options”), non-qualified stock options
(the “Non-Qualified Stock Options”), and restricted stock awards (the
“Restricted Stock Awards”), which are restricted shares of Common Stock (the
Incentive Stock Options, the Non-Qualified Stock Options and the Restricted
Stock Awards are collectively referred to as “Incentive Awards”). Incentive
Stock Options may be granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan for 10 years from the
Effective Date, and Non-Qualified Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards
may
be granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan after the Effective Date and until the
2005
Plan is discontinued or terminated by the Board.
From
time
to time, we may issue Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options
pursuant to the 2005 Plan. The Incentive Stock Options will be evidenced by
and
granted under a written incentive stock option agreement (the “Incentive Stock
Option Agreement”). The Non-Qualified Stock Options will be evidenced by and
issued under a written non-qualified stock option agreement (the “Non-Qualified
Stock Option Agreement”). A copy of the form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement
and a copy of the form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement were attached
as
Exhibits 10.2 and 10.3, respectively, to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
with the SEC on December 23, 2005.
The
Board
has reserved a total of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under
the
2005 Plan. If an Incentive Award granted pursuant to the 2005 Plan expires,
terminates, is unexercised or is forfeited, or if any shares are surrendered
to
us in connection with an Incentive Award, the shares subject to such award
and
the surrendered shares will become available for further awards under the 2005
Plan. We granted options under the 2005 Plan to purchase 1,721,700 shares of
Common Stock to our named executive officers and other employees on December
29,
2005.
At
the
earliest practicable date after April 11, 2006, we expect to file a registration
statement on Form S-8 to register the shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance of incentive awards under the 2005 Plan. This registration statement
is
expected to become effective on filing. Subject to Rule 144 limitations, shares
of Common Stock issued upon exercise of stock options and other incentive awards
granted under the 2005 Plan after the effective date of the registration
statement on Form S-8 will be eligible for resale in the public market without
restriction.
The
number of shares subject to the 2005 Plan, any number of shares subject to
any
numerical limit in the 2005 Plan, and the number of shares and terms of any
Incentive Award may be adjusted in the event of any change in our outstanding
Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, spin-off, stock split, reverse
stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, consolidation,
liquidation, business combination or exchange of shares, or similar transaction.
The
following is a description of the material provisions of the 2005 Plan. The
descriptions of the 2005 Plan, the Incentive Stock Option Agreement and the
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the complete documents.
Equity
Incentive Plan
The
2005
Plan enables the Board to provide equity-based incentives through grants or
awards of Incentive Awards to the Company’s present and future employees,
directors, consultants and other third party service providers. As of January
12, 2006, the record date for our stockholders’ written consent described in
this Information Statement, there were 86 employees, five executive officers,
one director, and two consultants and other third party service providers
eligible to participate in the 2005 Plan.
Administration
The
Compensation Committee of the Board, or a subcommittee of the Compensation
Committee, will administer the 2005 Plan. In the event that a
Compensation Committee does not then exist the entire Board will administer
the
2005 Plan. Subject to the terms of the 2005 Plan, the Compensation Committee
will have complete authority and discretion to determine the terms of Incentive
Awards.
Stock
Options
The
2005
Plan authorizes the grant of Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Stock
Options. Options granted under the 2005 Plan entitle the grantee, upon exercise,
to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock from us at a specified
exercise price per share. The 2005 Plan administrator will determine the period
of time during which an option may be exercised, as well as any vesting
schedule, except that no option may be exercised more than 10 years after the
date of grant. The exercise price for shares of Common Stock covered by an
option cannot be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date
of grant unless we agree otherwise at the time of the grant.
Under
the
2005 Plan, a participant may not surrender an option for the grant of a new
option with a lower exercise price or another Incentive Award. In addition,
if a
participant’s option is cancelled before its termination date, the participant
may not receive another option within six months of the cancellation date unless
the exercise price of the new option equals or exceeds the exercise price of
the
cancelled option.
Restricted
Stock Awards
The
2005
Plan also authorizes the grant of Restricted Stock Awards on terms and
conditions established by the Board, which may include performance conditions.
The terms and conditions will include the designation of a restriction period
during which the shares are not transferable and are subject to forfeiture.
Change
in Control
The
Board
may make provisions in Incentive Awards with respect to a change in control.
Under the 2005 Plan, in the event of a change of control and absent any terms
to
the contrary in an Incentive Award, the Board may: accelerate exercisability
or
the lapse of any risk of forfeiture; terminate the 2005 Plan and cancel any
outstanding Incentive Awards not exercised or for which risk of forfeiture
has
not lapsed; issue cash or stock of the purchasing entity to the holders of
any
stock options in amounts equal to the fair market value of our Common Stock
at
the time of such transaction less the exercise price or any holders of
Restricted Stock Awards in amounts equal to the fair market value of the Common
Stock at the time of such transaction; or continue the 2005 Plan for stock
options that have not vested or restricted stock awards subject to risks that
have not lapsed.
Duration,
Amendment and Termination
Our
Board
may suspend or terminate the 2005 Plan without stockholder approval or
ratification at any time or from time to time. Unless sooner terminated, the
2005 Plan will terminate on the tenth anniversary of its adoption. The Board
may
also amend the 2005 Plan at any time. No change may be made that increases
the
total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to
Incentive Awards or reduces the minimum exercise price for options or exchange
of options for other Incentive Awards, unless such change is authorized by
our
stockholders. A termination or amendment of the 2005 Plan will not, without
the
consent of the participant, adversely affect a participant’s rights under a
previously granted incentive award.
Restrictions
on Transfer: Deferral
Except
as
otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee and provided in the Incentive
Award, Incentive Awards may not be transferred or exercised by another person
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Compensation
Committee may permit participants to elect to defer the issuance of Common
Stock
or the settlement of awards in cash under the 2005 Plan.
Federal
Income Tax Information
The
following is a general summary of the current federal income tax treatment
of
Incentive Awards, which are authorized to be granted under the 2005 Plan, based
upon the current provisions of the Internal; Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”) and regulations promulgated thereunder. The rules governing the tax
treatment of such awards are quite technical, so the following discussion of
tax
consequences is necessarily general in nature and is not complete. In addition,
statutory provisions are subject to change, as are their interpretations, and
their application may vary in individual circumstances. Finally, this discussion
does not address the tax consequences under applicable state and local
law.
Incentive
Stock Options:
A
participant will not recognize income on the grant or exercise of an Incentive
Stock Option. However, the difference between the exercise price and the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise is an adjustment item
for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If a participant does not exercise
an Incentive Stock Option within certain specified periods after termination
of
employment, the participant will recognize ordinary income on the exercise
of an
Incentive Stock Option in the same manner as on the exercise of a Non-Qualified
Stock Option, as described below. The general rule is that gain or loss from
the
sale or exchange of shares of Common Stock acquired on the exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option will be treated as capital gain or loss. If certain
holding period requirements are not satisfied, however, the participant
generally will recognize ordinary income at the time of the disposition. Gain
recognized on the disposition in excess of the ordinary income resulting
therefrom will be capital gain, and any loss recognized will be a capital
loss.
Non-Qualified
Stock Options:
A
participant generally is not required to recognize income on the grant of a
Non-Qualified Stock Option, a stock appreciation right, restricted stock units,
a performance grant, or a stock award. Instead, ordinary income generally is
required to be recognized on the date the Non-Qualified Stock Option or stock
appreciation right is exercised, or in the case of restricted stock units,
performance grants, and stock awards, upon the issuance of shares and/or the
payment of cash pursuant to the terms of the incentive award. In general, the
amount of ordinary income required to be recognized is, (a) in the case of
a
Non-Qualified Stock Option, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair
market value of the shares on the exercise date over the exercise price, (b)
in
the case of a stock appreciation right, the amount of cash and/or the fair
market value of any shares received upon exercise plus the amount of taxes
withheld from such amounts, and (c) in the case of restricted stock units,
performance grants, and stock awards, the amount of cash and/or the fair market
value of any shares received in respect thereof, plus the amount of taxes
withheld from such amounts.
Gain
or Loss on Sale or Exchange of Shares:
In
general, gain or loss from the sale or exchange of shares of Common Stock
granted or awarded under the 2005 Plan will be treated as capital gain or loss,
provided that the shares are held as capital assets at the time of the sale
or
exchange. However, if certain holding period requirements are not satisfied
at
the time of a sale or exchange of shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive
stock option (a “disqualifying disposition”), a participant generally will be
required to recognize ordinary income upon such disposition.
Deductibility
by Company:
The
Company generally is not allowed a deduction in connection with the grant or
exercise of an Incentive Stock Option. However, if a participant is required
to
recognize ordinary income as a result of a disqualifying disposition, we will
be
entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income so recognized.
In
general, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option (including an Incentive
Stock Option that is treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option), a stock
appreciation right, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance
grants, and stock awards, the Company will be allowed a deduction in an amount
equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by a participant, provided
that certain income tax reporting requirements are satisfied.
Parachute
Payments:
Where
payments to certain employees that are contingent on a change in control exceed
limits specified in the Code, the employee generally is liable for a 20 percent
excise tax on, and the corporation or other entity making the payment generally
is not entitled to any deduction for, a specified portion of such payments.
The
Compensation Committee may make awards as to which the vesting thereof is
accelerated by a change in control of the Company. Such accelerated vesting
would be relevant in determining whether the excise tax and deduction
disallowance rules would be triggered with respect to certain Company
employees.
Performance-Based
Compensation:
Subject
to certain exceptions, Section 162(m) of the Code disallows federal income
tax
deductions for compensation paid by a publicly-held corporation to certain
executives (generally the five highest paid officers) to the extent the amount
paid to an executive exceeds $1 million for the taxable year. The 2005 Plan
has
been designed to allow the Compensation Committee to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance
grants that qualify under an exception to the deduction limit of Section 162(m)
for performance-based compensation.
2005
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN BENEFITS
On
December 29, 2005, we granted options under the 2005 Plan to acquire 1,721,700
shares of Common Stock to our named executive officers and other employees.
The
following table sets forth, as of December 29, 2005, the benefits or amounts
that have been received under the 2005 Plan, by: (i) our Chief Executive
Officer during 2005 and each of the four most highly compensated executive
officers other than our Chief Executive Officer who served as executive officers
during 2005; (ii) all of our current executive Officers as a group;
(iii) all of our directors who are not executive officers, as a group; and
(iv) all of our employees who are not executive officers, as a group. Any future
Incentive Awards under the 2005 cannot currently be determined; the grant of
any
future Incentive Awards is within the discretion of our Board.
|
2005
Equity Incentive Plan
|
|
|
Name
and Position
|
|
Dollar
Value ($)(2)
|
|
Number
of Units (1)
|
|
|
Robert
H. Tomlinson, Jr.
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
$
|
2,250,000
|
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|
500,000
|
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|
Timothy
E. Takesue
Executive
Vice President of Merchandising
|
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$
|
2,250,000
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
Anthony
Priore
Chief
Marketing Officer
|
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$
|
675,000
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
Manoharan
Sivashanmugam
Vice
President of Technology
|
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$
|
337,500
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
Miguel
Martinez, Jr.
Vice
President, Finance
|
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$
|
337,500
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
Executive
Group
|
|
$
|
5,850,000
|
|
|
1,300,000
|
|
|
Non-Executive
Director Group(3)
|
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$
|
0.00
|
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|
0
|
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Non-Executive
Officer Employee Group (4)
|
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$
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1,897,650
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421,700
|
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_________________
Notes:
| (1) |
Represents
the number of shares of Common Stock underlying options granted on
December 29, 2005 under the 2005 Plan.
|
| (2) |
The
present value of the options granted under the 2005 Plan on December
29,
2005 was $4.50 per share. The dollar value for the purposes of this
table
was calculated by the product of: (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock
underlying the options awarded to each person or group, multiplied
by (ii)
$4.50 per share, representing the present value of each option to
acquire
one share of Common Stock.
|
| (3) |
The
only non-executive director as of January 12, 2006, the record date
for
the actions described in this Information Statement, was Geoffrey
Alison,
who has not been granted any awards under the 2005 Plan.
|
| (4) |
Consists
of 86 non-executive officer employees who collectively have been
granted
options to acquire 421,700 shares of Common Stock.
|
VOTING
SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
The
following table sets forth, as of January 12, 2006, the number of shares of
our
Common Stock beneficially owned, and the percent so owned, by (i) each
person known to us to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of our Common Stock, (ii) each director of the Company,
(iii) our Chief Executive Officer during 2005 and each of the four most
highly compensated executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer
who
served as executive officers during 2005 (our “Named Executive Officers”) and
(iv) all of our directors and Named Executive Officers as a group. The
number of shares owned are those beneficially owned, as determined under the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and such information is
not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under
such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares of Common Stock as to
which
a person has sole or shared voting power or investment power and any shares
of
Common Stock which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days through
the exercise of any option, warrant or right, through conversion of any security
or pursuant to the automatic termination of a power of attorney or revocation
of
a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement. The address of each
executive officer and director is c/o uBid, 8550 West Bryn Mawr, Chicago,
Illinois 60631.
|
Name
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
(1)
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thomas
J. Petters (2)(8)
|
|
|
9,827,937
|
|
|
49.18
|
%
|
|
Petters
Group Worldwide, LLC (3)(8)
|
|
|
7,189,048
|
|
|
36.54
|
%
|
|
Paul
Tudor Jones, II (4)(9)
|
|
|
2,089,334
|
|
|
10.54
|
%
|
|
Tudor
Investment Corporation (5)(9)
|
|
|
1,944,125
|
|
|
9.82
|
%
|
|
Witches
Rock Portfolio Ltd.(6)(9)
|
|
|
1,668,452
|
|
|
8.46
|
%
|
|
Smithfield
Fiduciary LLC (10)
|
|
|
1,555,557
|
|
|
7.84
|
%
|
|
Petters
Company, Inc. (7)(8)
|
|
|
1,527,778
|
|
|
7.75
|
%
|
|
Robert
H. Tomlinson, Jr.
|
|
|
687,998
|
|
|
3.55
|
%
|
|
Timothy
E. Takesue
|
|
|
687,998
|
|
|
3.55
|
%
|
|
Miguel
Martinez, Jr.
|
|
|
44,081
|
|
|
0.23
|
%
|
|
Anthony
Priore
|
|
|
20,881
|
|
|
0.11
|
%
|
|
Manoharan
Sivashanmugam
|
|
|
11,600
|
|
|
0.06
|
%
|
|
Geoffrey
Alison
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
directors and executive officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as
a group (6 people)
|
|
|
1,452,558
|
|
|
7.49
|
%
|
____________________
Notes:
| (1) |
Based
on a total of 19,399,334 shares outstanding as of January 12, 2006.
Shares
underlying warrants exercisable within 60 days of January 12, 2006
are
considered for the purpose of determining the percent of the class
held by
the holder of such warrants, but not for the purpose of computing
the
percentages held by others.
|
| (2) |
Includes:
7,189,048 shares beneficially owned by Petters Group Worldwide, LLC,
including 277,778 warrants exercisable within 60 days by Petters
Group
Worldwide, LLC; and 1,527,778 shares beneficially owned by Petters
Company, Inc., including 305,556 warrants exercisable within 60 days
by
Petters Company, Inc. Mr. Petters has sole voting and investment
power
over all of the shares indicated in the table as being beneficially
owned
by Mr. Petters, Petters Group Worldwide, LLC and Petters Company,
Inc.
|
| (3) |
Includes
277,778 warrants exercisable within 60
days.
|
| (4) |
Paul
Tudor Jones, II is the controlling shareholder of Tudor Investment
Corporation and is the indirect controlling equity holder of Tudor
Proprietary Trading, L.L.C., and therefore may be deemed the beneficial
owner of shares beneficially owned by Tudor Investment Corporation
and
Tudor Proprietary Trading. Mr. Jones expressly disclaims beneficial
ownership of these shares. The shares beneficially owned by Tudor
Proprietary Trading include 116,167 shares directly owned and 29,042
shares underlying warrants. The shares beneficially owned by Tudor
Investment Corporation are more fully described in Footnote 5, below.
|
| (5) |
Tudor
Investment Corporation provides investment advisory services to Witches
Rock Portfolio Ltd. and The Tudor BVI Global Portfolio Ltd., and
may
therefore be deemed the beneficial owner of shares beneficially owned
by
Witches Rock and Tudor BVI Portfolio. Tudor Investment Corporation
expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. The shares
beneficially owned by Tudor BVI Portfolio include 215,738 shares
directly
owned and 59,935 shares underlying warrants. The shares beneficially
owned
by Witches Rock are more fully described in Footnote 6, below.
|
| (6) |
Includes
333,690 warrants exercisable within 60 days.
|
| (7) |
Includes
305,556 warrants exercisable within 60
days.
|
| (8) |
Information
regarding the number of shares beneficially owned by Thomas J. Petters,
Petters Group Worldwide, LLC and Petters Company, Inc. was provided
in a
report on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on January 9, 2006. The
address
for each of Thomas J. Petters, Petters Group Worldwide, LLC and Petters
Company, Inc. is: 4400 Baker Road, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343.
|
| (9) |
Information
regarding the number of shares beneficially owned by Paul Tudor Jones,
II,
Tudor Investment Corporation and Witches Rock Portfolio Ltd. was
provided
in a report on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 3, 2006
by Paul
Tudor Jones, II, The Tudor BVI Global Portfolio, Ltd., Tudor Investment
Corporation, Tudor Proprietary Trading, L.L.C and Witches Rock Portfolio
Ltd. The business address for Paul Tudor Jones, II, Tudor Investment
Corporation and Witches Rock Portfolio Ltd. is: c/o Tudor Investment
Corporation, 1275 King Street, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831-2936.
|
| (10) |
Includes
444,445 warrants exercisable within 60 days. The shares beneficially
owned
by Smithfield Fiduciary LLC are beneficially owned by a group of
10
beneficial owners, including: Smithfield Fiduciary LLC, Highbridge
International LLC, Highbridge Capital Corporation, Highbridge Capital
L.P., Highbridge Master L.P., Highbridge GP, Ltd., Highbridge GP,
LLC,
Highbridge Capital Management, LLC, Glenn Dubin and Henry Swieca.
The
address for Smithfield Fiduciary LLC, Highbridge International LLC,
and
Highbridge Capital Corporation is The Cayman Corporate Center,
4th
Floor, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands,
BWI.
The address for Highbridge Capital L.P., Highbridge Capital Management,
LLC, Glenn Dubin and Henry Swieca is c/o Highbridge Capital Management,
LLC, 9 West 57th
Street, 27th
Floor, New York, New York 10019. The address for Highbridge Master
L.P.,
Highbridge GP, Ltd. and Highbridge GP, LLC is c/o Harmonic Fund Services,
Cayman Financial Centre, Tower C, 36 Dr. Roy’s Drive, George Town, Grand
Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI. This information was provided in a report
on
Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 9, 2006.
|
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
The
table
below sets forth, for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 calendar years, the compensation
earned by our Chief Executive Officer and our Named Executive Officers.
Summary
Compensation Table
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
Compensation
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Annual
Compensation
|
|
Awards
|
|
Payouts
|
|
|
|
|
Name
Executive Officer & Principal Position
|
|
Year (4)
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Other
Annual Compensation ($)(2)
|
|
Restricted
Stock Award(s) ($)
|
|
Securities
Underlying Options/SARs (#)(5)
|
|
All
Other Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Robert
H. Tomlinson, Jr.
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
$
|
31,500
(1
|
)
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
25,410
(1
|
)
|
| |
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
237,500
|
|
$
|
175,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Timothy
E. Takesue
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
Executive
Vice President of Merchandising
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
$
|
112,500
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
213,750
|
|
$
|
175,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manoharan
Sivashanmugam
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
135,000
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
$
|
1,350
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
$
|
131,711
(3
|
)
|
|
Vice
President of Technology
|
|
|
2004
|
|
$
|
120,846
|
|
$
|
2,500
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
2003
|
|
$
|
203,385
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony
Priore
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
135,192
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
$
|
329
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
Chief
Marketing Officer
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miguel
Martinez, Jr.
|
|
|
2005
|
|
$
|
129,808
|
|
$
|
50,000
|
|
$
|
1,500
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
Vice
President, Finance
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
2003
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
--
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
_________________________
Notes:
| (1) |
Represents
temporary housing and relocation
expenses.
|
| (2) |
Represents
employer contribution to 401(k) retirement
plan.
|
| (3) |
Represents
the value of payments received on termination of a Phantom Stock
Option
Plan, terminated in July, 2005.
|
| (4) |
Information
included is for each respective calendar year. Information for the
period
from January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2003 represents compensation
received from CMGI, the former parent company of uBid, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
|
| (5) |
Represents
options granted under the 2005
Plan.
|
The
following table shows the number of options to purchase Common Stock granted
to
each of the Named Executive Officers during 2005.
Option/SAR
Grants in Last Fiscal Year
| |
|
Individual
Grants
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of Securities Underlying Option/SARs Granted
(#)
|
|
Percent
of Total Options/SARs Granted To Employees in 2005
|
|
Exercise
or Base Price ($/Sh)
|
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
Grant
Date Present
Value ($)
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Tomlinson (1)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
29.04
|
%
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
December
29, 2015
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
Timothy
E. Takesue (1)
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
29.04
|
%
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
December
29, 2015
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
Anthony
Priore (2)
|
|
|
150,000
|
|
|
8.71
|
%
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
December
29, 2015
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
Miguel
Martinez (2)
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
4.36
|
%
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
December
29, 2015
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
Manoharan
Sivashanmugam (2)
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
4.36
|
%
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
|
December
29, 2015
|
|
$
|
4.50
|
|
| (1) |
This
option grant was made on December 29, 2005 and has a four-year vesting
schedule pursuant to which 1/3 of the total option becomes exercisable
on
the 24-month anniversary of the grant, 1/3 of the total option becomes
exercisable on the 36-month anniversary of the grant, and the remaining
portion becomes exercisable on the 48-month anniversary of the grant.
|
| (2) |
This
option grant was made on December 29, 2005 and has a four-year vesting
schedule pursuant to which 1/4 of the total option becomes exercisable
on
the 12-month anniversary of the grant, 1/4 of the total option becomes
exercisable on the 24-month anniversary of the grant, 1/4 of the
total
option becomes exercisable on the 36-month anniversary of the grant,
and
the remaining portion becomes exercisable on the 48-month anniversary
of
the grant.
|
Aggregated
Option/SAR Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR Values
|
Name
|
Shares
Acquired on Exercise
(#)
|
Value
Realized ($)
|
Number
of Shares Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs at
Fiscal
Year-End
(Exercisable/Unexercisable)
|
Value
of Unexercised
In-The-Money
Options/SARs at
Fiscal
Year-End (Exercisable/Unexercisable)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Tomlinson (1)
|
--
|
--
|
0
/
500,000
|
$0.00
/ $0.00
|
|
Timothy
E. Takesue (1)
|
--
|
--
|
0
/
500,000
|
$0.00
/ $0.00
|
|
Anthony
Priore (2)
|
--
|
--
|
0
/
150,000
|
$0.00
/ $0.00
|
|
Miguel
Martinez (2)
|
--
|
--
|
0
/
75,000
|
$0.00
/ $0.00
|
|
Manoharan
Sivashanmugam (2)
|
--
|
--
|
0
/
75,000
|
$0.00
/ $0.00
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| (1) |
Was
granted options on December 29, 2005 with a four-year vesting schedule
pursuant to which 1/3 of the total options become exercisable on
the
24-month anniversary of the grant, 1/3 of the total options become
exercisable on the 36-month anniversary of the grant, and the remaining
options become exercisable on the 48-month anniversary of the grant.
|
| (2) |
Was
granted options on December 29, 2005 with a four-year vesting schedule
pursuant to which 1/4 of the total options become exercisable on
the
12-month anniversary of the grant, 1/4 of the total options become
exercisable on the 24-month anniversary of the grant, 1/4 of the
total
options become exercisable on the 36-month anniversary of the grant,
and
the remaining options become exercisable on the 48-month anniversary
of
the grant.
|
Compensation
of Directors
There
are
currently no compensation arrangements in place for the members of the Board.
We
expect to establish these arrangements as new members are appointed to the
Board.
Employment
Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change in
Control
We
have
entered into executive employment agreements with our President and Chief
Executive Officer, our Executive Vice President of Merchandising and our Chief
Marketing Officer.
Robert
H. Tomlinson, Jr. - President and Chief Executive Officer
On
December 29, 2005, uBid, Inc., our wholly-owned subsidiary (“uBid”) entered into
an executive employment agreement with Mr. Tomlinson which provides for an
initial annual base salary of $275,000 for the first 12 months of the agreement
increasing to $300,000 during the second 12 months of the agreement.
Under
the
agreement, Mr. Tomlinson also received options to purchase up to 500,000 shares
of Common Stock under the 2005 Plan, approved on December 15, 2005, which
options vest as follows: 1/3 of the options will vest on the 24 month
anniversary of the date of the grant, 1/3 of the options will vest on the 36
month anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 1/3 on the 48 month
anniversary of the date of grant. The exercise price of the options is $4.50
per
share. Subsequent grants of stock options shall vest and be exercisable pursuant
to the terms and conditions of the 2005
Plan,
described below in this Information Statement.
Mr.
Tomlinson’s employment agreement has a term commencing on the execution of the
agreement and continuing for a period of 24 months. The agreement provides
that
if Mr. Tomlinson is terminated by us without cause or if Mr. Tomlinson
terminates the agreement for good reason, including a change of control that
results in the termination of Mr. Tomlinson’s employment with uBid or a material
adverse change in his duties and responsibilities, he will be entitled, after
execution of our standard separation and release agreement, to severance
payments in the amount of Mr. Tomlinson’s annual base salary at the time of such
termination and all health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months
following termination. A change of control includes an acquisition of 51% or
more of our outstanding voting securities or consummation of a tender offer
or
exchange offer where the offeree acquires more than 51% of our then-outstanding
voting securities.
Timothy
E. Takesue - Executive Vice President of Merchandising
On
December 29, 2005, uBid also entered into an executive employment agreement
with
Mr. Takesue which provides for an initial annual base salary of $250,000 for
the
first 12 months of the agreement increasing to $275,000 during the second 12
months of the agreement.
Under
the
agreement, Mr. Takesue received options to purchase up to 500,000 shares of
Common Stock under the 2005 Plan, which options vest as follows: 1/3 of the
options will vest on the 24 month anniversary of the date of the grant, 1/3
of
the options will vest on the 36 month anniversary of the date of grant and
the
remaining 1/3 on the 48 month anniversary of the date of grant. The exercise
price of the options is $4.50 per share. Subsequent grants of stock options
shall vest and be exercisable pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 2005
Plan.
Mr.
Takesue’s employment agreement has a term commencing on the execution of the
agreement and continuing for a period of 24 months. The agreement provides
that
if Mr. Takesue is terminated by us without cause, or if Mr. Takesue terminates
the agreement for good reason, including a change of control that results in
the
termination of Mr. Takesue’s employment with uBid or a material adverse change
in his duties and responsibilities, he will be entitled, after execution of
our
standard separation and release agreement, to severance payments in the amount
of Mr. Takesue’s annual base salary at the time of such termination and all
health insurance coverage for a period of 12 months following termination.
A
change of control includes an acquisition of 51% or more of our outstanding
voting securities or consummation of a tender offer or exchange offer where
the
offeree acquires more than 51% of our then-outstanding voting
securities.
Anthony
Priore - Chief Marketing Officer
On
the
December 29, 2005, uBid entered into an executive employment agreement with
Mr.
Priore which provides for an initial annual base salary of $190,000 for the
first 12 months of the agreement increasing to $210,000 during the second 12
months of the agreement.
Under
the
agreement, Mr. Priore received options to purchase up to 150,000 shares of
Common Stock under the 2005 Plan, and vest as to one-quarter of these options
on
each of the next four anniversaries of the date of grant. The exercise price
of
the options is $4.50 per share. Subsequent grants of stock options shall vest
and be exercisable pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 2005 Plan.
Mr.
Priore’s employment agreement has a term commencing on the execution of the
agreement and continuing for a period of 24 months. The agreement provides
that
if Mr. Priore is terminated by us without cause, or if Mr. Priore terminates
the
agreement for good reason, including a change of control that results in the
termination of Mr. Priore’s employment with uBid or a material adverse change in
his duties and responsibilities, he will be entitled, after execution of our
standard separation and release agreement, to severance payments in the amount
of 50% of Mr. Priore’s annual base salary at the time of such termination and
all health insurance coverage for a period of 6 months following termination.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
We
do not
presently have a Compensation Committee in place. Petters Group Worldwide,
LLC
primarily negotiated the employment agreements of our Named Executive Officers.
Petters Group Worldwide, LLC was the majority owner of uBid, Inc. prior to
the merger between uBid and the Company. Petters Group Worldwide, LLC
remains a significant stockholder in the Company following the merger.
Messrs. Tomlinson and Takesue, executive officers, participated in compensation
discussions regarding our employees.
ACTION
NUMBER 2
ADOPTION
OF THE STOCKHOLDER PROTECTION PLAN
Under
the
Stockholder Protection Plan, each outstanding share of the Company’s Common
Stock on December 15, 2005 and all additional shares issued prior to 10 business
days following the Separation Time (as defined below) was granted a purchase
right to acquire one one-hundredth of a share of the Company's Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) at a purchase price
of $10.00 per share, subject to adjustment (a “Right”). The Rights will be
issued under the terms of a Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement (the “Rights
Agreement”) which was adopted by our Board and will be executed by the Company
on or around January ___, 2006.
The
purpose of the Stockholder Protection Plan is to:
| ·
|
give
our Board the opportunity to negotiate with any persons seeking to
obtain
control of the Company; and
|
| ·
|
deter
acquisitions of our Common Stock without assurances of fair and equal
treatment of all of our stockholders.
|
The
Rights will not prevent a takeover of the Company. However, the Rights may
cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires 20% or more of our
Common Stock unless the Rights are first redeemed by the Board. The Rights
therefore serve as an anti-takeover device by encouraging potential acquirers
to
negotiate directly with the Board and provide the Board with some control over
such transactions. Nevertheless, the Rights should not interfere with a
transaction that is in the best interests of our stockholders because the Rights
can be redeemed by the Board on or before the close of business on the Flip-in
Date (as defined below) and because our stockholders may take certain actions
to
permit a stockholder vote on whether to redeem the Rights in case of a
Qualifying Offer (as defined below). Furthermore, the Rights Agreement provides
that it will be reviewed annually by a committee of independent directors to
determine whether it continues to be in the best interests of our stockholders
or, rather, if the Rights should be redeemed.
Material
Terms of the Rights Agreement
Following
is a brief discussion of the material terms of the Stockholder Protection Plan.
The discussion below is only a summary of the Stockholder Protection Plan,
the
full text of which is attached to this Information Statement as Appendix
B
and is
incorporated herein by reference. Any information or statement related to the
Stockholder Protection Plan provided in this Information Statement is qualified
in its entirety by this reference.
Under
the
terms of the Stockholder Protection Plan, our stockholders will receive one
Right for every share of Common Stock held on December 15, 2005. Initially,
the
Rights will be evidenced by the stock certificates representing the Common
Stock. After the Separation Time, (as defined below), each Right will entitle
the holder (the “Right Holder”) to either (i) purchase one one-hundredth of a
share of our Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, for a
purchase price of $10.00 per share, subject to adjustment (the “Exercise Price”)
or (ii) depending on the circumstances, purchase shares of Common Stock having
an aggregate market value equal in value to twice the Exercise Price or (iii)
acquire shares of common stock of an acquirer entity.
Exercisability
of Rights; Separation of Rights from Common Stock
The
Rights are not exercisable until the Separation Time. The term “Separation Time”
means the earlier to occur of the 10th business day after (i) the commencement
of a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in the
acquiring entity becoming a beneficial owner of 20% or more of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock (an “Acquiring Person”) and (ii) the earlier to occur of
(A) the date an acquirer becomes an Acquiring Person or (B) the public
announcement by the Company of such an occurrence (the “Flip-in Date”). The
Board also has the authority under the Rights Agreement to adjust the Flip-in
Date.
Until
the
Separation Time, the Rights are not subject to separation from the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the Rights were issued and may be transferred
only in connection with a transfer of such shares of Common Stock. After the
Separation Time, separate certificates representing the Rights will be delivered
to the Right Holders and the Rights may be transferred separately from the
related shares of Common Stock.
Redemption
of Rights
At
any
time prior to the Flip-in Date, the Board may, at its option, redeem all of
the
outstanding Rights at the redemption price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption
Price”) payable in cash, Common Stock or other securities.
Exercisability
of Rights after the Flip-in Date
After
a
Flip-in Date, a holder of any Rights may exercise any Rights that have not
expired prior to the Flip-in Date, at the Exercise Price of $10.00 per Right,
to
purchase from the Company a number of shares of Common Stock representing a
value equal to two times the Exercise Price. However, so long as the Acquiring
Person has not acquired more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock,
under certain circumstances, the exchange ratio may be reduced by the Board
so
that the Rights may only be exercised to acquire, for the Exercise Price, one
share of Common Stock per Right.
If
the
Company becomes obligated to issue shares of its Common Stock upon exercise
for
Rights, it may, at its option, substitute therefore shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, at a ratio of one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Preferred Stock
for each share of Common Stock otherwise issuable.
Exercisability
of Rights held by Acquiring Person
After
a
Flip-in Date, all Rights associated with shares of Common Stock owned by an
Acquiring Person are deemed void.
Exercise
of Rights to Acquire Shares of an Acquiring Company
A
holder
of Rights will be entitled to exercise its Rights for shares of common stock
in
an acquiring company if:
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the
Company participates in a consolidation, merger or statutory share
exchange at the consummation of which (or at the time any agreement
for
such a transaction is entered into) an Acquiring Person beneficially
owns
90% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or controls
the
Board of the Company and pursuant to which the holders of Common
Stock and
the Acquiring Person are treated differently with respect to the
capital
stock related to such transaction or the Acquiring Person or an affiliate
is a party to the transaction; or
|
| ·
|
the
Company sells or enters into an agreement to sell more than 50% of
its
assets (or assets that generate more than 50% of its operating income
or
cash flow on a consolidated basis) to an Acquiring Person or its
affiliates at a time when an Acquiring Person or its affiliates controls
the Board.
|
As
a
condition to either type of transaction, the Rights Agreement provides that
we
will take such action as shall be necessary to ensure that upon the consummation
of such transaction, the Rights will be exercisable at the then current Exercise
Price for a number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company
representing an aggregate market price on the date of the transaction equal
to
twice the Exercise Price of the Right.
In
addition, in the event of the consummation of a transaction as described above,
the Acquiring Person will become liable for, and assume, all our obligations
and
duties under the Stockholder Protection Plan.
Rights
as a Stockholder
A
holder
of any Rights has no rights as a stockholder of the Company based solely on
the
fact that the holder has an interest in the Rights but may have such rights
if
and when the Rights held are exercised to acquire shares of Common Stock or
other securities.
Qualifying
Offer
Not
earlier than 90 business days nor later than 120 business days, after the
commencement of a Qualifying Offer (as defined below), stockholders representing
a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock may request that the
Board call a special meeting of stockholders to vote on the redemption of all
of
the Rights. The record date for determining the stockholders eligible to request
such a meeting will be the 90th business day following the commencement of
the
Qualifying Offer. The Board is required to call and hold such a meeting within
90 business days after receipt of the stockholders’ request. If, at the special
meeting, stockholders representing 80% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock vote in favor of redeeming the Rights, then the Rights will be
redeemed at the Redemption Price. The redemption shall occur on the date that
the vote results are certified. If the Board fails to hold the special meeting
by the required date, the Rights will be redeemed at the Redemption Price at
the
close of business on the 90th business day following the Board’s receipt of the
stockholders’ request.
The
term
“Qualifying Offer” means an offer determined by the Board of Directors to have,
to the extent required for the type of offer specified, each of the following
characteristics:
|
·
|
a
fully-financed (as described below) all-cash tender offer or exchange
offer (for common stock of the offeror), or a combination thereof,
for all
of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock;
|
| ·
|
an
offer commenced by an offeror that beneficially owns no more than
1% of
the outstanding shares of our Common Stock as of the date of such
commencement;
|
| ·
|
an
offer whose per-share price is greater than the highest market price
of
our Common Stock in the preceding 24 months, with, in the case of
an offer
that includes shares of common stock of the offeror, such per-share
offer
price being determined using the lowest reported market price for
its
common stock of the offeror during the five trading days immediately
preceding and the five trading days immediately following the commencement
of the offer;
|
| ·
|
an
offer which, within 20 business days after the commencement date
of the
offer (or within 10 business days after any increase in the offer
consideration), does not result in a nationally recognized investment
banking firm retained by the Board rendering an opinion to the Board
that
the consideration being offered is either unfair or inadequate;
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| ·
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is
subject only to the minimum tender condition described below and
other
customary terms and conditions, which conditions shall not include
any
requirements with respect to the offeror or its agents being permitted
to
conduct any due diligence with respect to the books, records, management,
accountants and other outside advisers of the Company;
|
| ·
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is
accompanied by an irrevocable written commitment by the offeror that
the
offer will remain open for at least 120 business days and, if a special
meeting is duly requested by our stockholders with respect to the
offer,
at least 10 business days after the date of the special meeting or,
if no
special meeting is held within 90 business days following receipt
of the
notice of the special meeting, for at least 10 business days following
such 90-day period;
|
| ·
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is
accompanied by an irrevocable written commitment by the offeror that,
in
addition to the minimum time periods specified in the paragraph
immediately above, the offer will be extended for at least 20 business
days after any increase in the price offered, and after any bona
fide
alternative offer is commenced;
|
| ·
|
is
conditioned on a minimum of two-thirds of the shares of our Common
Stock
being tendered and not withdrawn as of the offer’s expiration date;
|
| ·
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is
accompanied by an irrevocable written commitment by the offeror to
consummate promptly upon successful completion of the offer a second-step
transaction whereby all shares of Common Stock not tendered into
the offer
will be acquired at the same consideration per share actually paid
pursuant to the offer, subject to stockholders’ statutory appraisal
rights, if any;
|
| ·
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is
accompanied by an irrevocable written commitment by the offeror that
no
amendments will be made to the offer to reduce the offer consideration
or
otherwise change the terms of the offer in a way that is adverse
to a
tendering stockholder; and
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| ·
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is
accompanied by certifications of the offeror and its chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, in their individual capacities,
that
all facts about the offeror that would be material to an investor’s
decision to accept the offer have been, and will continue to be promptly
for the pendency of the offer, fully and accurately disclosed; and
all
required reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 will be
timely
filed by the offeror during such period.
|
Any
offers that include common stock of the acquirer as all or part of the
consideration are subject to further conditions for qualification as set forth
in the Rights Agreement, including, among others, a requirement that the offeror
be a publicly owned United States corporation whose shares are listed on the
New
York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market System.
In
order
for an offer to be considered “fully financed,” the offeror must evidence its
ability to provide sufficient funds for the offer and related expenses by means
of (i) firm, unqualified, written commitments from responsible financial
institutions having the necessary financial capacity, subject only to customary
terms and conditions, or (ii) cash or cash equivalents then available to the
offeror, set apart and maintained solely for the purpose of funding the offer,
with an irrevocable commitment to maintain such availability until the offer
is
consummated or withdrawn.
If
an
offer becomes a Qualifying Offer under the foregoing definition, but later
ceases to meet any of the requirements of the definition, the offer shall cease
to be a Qualifying Offer and the provisions of the Rights Agreement regarding
the calling of special meetings shall no longer be applicable to the
offer.
Adjustments
to Exercise Price
The
exercise price for each Right and the number of shares of Series A Preferred
Stock (or other securities or property) issuable upon exercise of the Rights
are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution.
Amendments
Except
for any extension of the expiration date (or any change in the definition
thereof), which may be done only by action of our stockholders, the provisions
of the Stockholder Protection Plan may be amended by the Board and the Rights
Agent at any time prior to the Flip-in Date. Material amendments to the
Stockholder Protection Plan are permitted only with a determination by a
majority of independent directors that such amendment is in the best interests
of our stockholders. If so adopted, any such material amendment will be
submitted to a non-binding vote of the stockholders at the next annual meeting
occurring at least six months after such adoption.
After
the
Rights are no longer redeemable, the provisions of the Stockholder Protection
Plan may be amended by us and the Rights Agent to cure any ambiguity, defect
or
inconsistency, or to make changes that we may deem necessary or desirable and
that do not materially adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
generally.
Term
The
Rights will expire at the close of business on the date that is the fourth
anniversary of the date of adoption, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed,
exercised or exchanged. The expiration date may be extended by our
stockholders.
A
committee of independent directors will annually evaluate the Rights Agreement
to determine whether its continuance is in the best interests of our
stockholders.
Certain
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
Although
the issuance of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or the Company,
stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income
at
such time as the rights become exercisable or are exercised for Common Stock
or
other consideration provided by the Company, or for common stock of an Acquiring
Person, or are redeemed.
INTERESTS
OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS
TO
BE ACTED UPON
We
have
used and intend to continue to use the 2005 Plan to compensate our directors,
officers, employees and non-employee service providers with equity compensation.
Certain grants of equity compensation under the 2005 Plan, which were made
on
December 29, 2005, have been detailed above in the 2005 Plan Benefits table.
We
have no current agreements or obligations obligating us to provide further
equity compensation to any directors, officers, employees or service providers,
and no determination has yet been made regarding future potential equity
compensation grants.
As
stockholders, certain of our insiders, including our directors, officers, and
employees, have an interest in the Stockholder Protection Plan. These persons
have no greater rights or interests under the Stockholder Protection Plan than
any non-insider stockholder of the Company.
CHANGE
IN CONTROL
On
December 29, 2005 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, uBid Acquisition Co., Inc.
(then a wholly- owned subsidiary of the Company) (“Acquisition Sub”) and uBid
entered into a Merger Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Merger
Agreement”). The Merger Agreement was filed as Exhibit 2.2 to the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 5, 2006. On the Closing
Date, Acquisition Sub merged with and into uBid, with uBid remaining as the
surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the
“Merger”). On the Closing Date, the holders of uBid’s issued and outstanding
capital stock before the Merger surrendered all of the issued and outstanding
capital stock of uBid and received 8,800,000 shares of Common Stock, with up
to
2,666,667 shares of such Common Stock subject to redemption. The stockholders
of
the Company before the Merger retained 599,334 shares of Common
Stock.
Also
on
the Closing Date, the Company, uBid and a group of accredited investors entered
into a Securities Purchase Agreement, a form of which was filed as Exhibit
10.2
to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 5,
2006. Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the investors named therein
purchased 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock and warrants to acquire 2,500,000
shares of Common Stock. Consideration for the investors’ purchases totaled $45
million, of which $29.5 million were cash proceeds and $15.5 million consisted
of cancellation of debt.
As
a
result of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the stockholders of the Company before the Merger now own
approximately 3% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and the
uBid stockholders and new investors own approximately 97% of the Company’s
issued and outstanding Common Stock. These transactions are discussed in greater
detail in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January
5, 2006. For additional information regarding our principal stockholders, please
see “Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof.”
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDATION
The
Board
recommended to the stockholders executing the written consent of stockholders,
that such stockholders ratify the Company’s adoption of the 2005 Plan and the
Stockholder Protection Plan.
By
the
Order of the Board of Directors
January
___, 2006
Appendix
A
2005
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
CAPE
COASTAL TRADING CORPORATION
2005
EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1.
DEFINITIONS
As
used
herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated
below:
| (a) |
“Administrator” shall
mean the Board, a Committee, or one or more officers designated
by the
Board or Committee, as the case may
be.
|
| (b) |
“Affiliate”
shall mean a Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company.
|
| (c) |
“Award”
shall mean any grant of an Option or Restricted Stock
Award.
|
| (d) |
“Board”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company.
|
| (e) |
“Committee”
shall mean a Committee of two or more directors who shall be appointed
by
and serve at the pleasure of the Board. If the Company’s securities are
registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,
as amended, then, to the extent necessary for compliance with Rule
16b-3,
or any successor provision, each of the members of the Committee
shall be
a “non-employee director.” Solely for purposes of this Section 1(a),
“non-employee director” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule
16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General
Rules
and Regula-tions under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
Further, to the extent necessary for compliance with the limitations
set
forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), each of the members
of the
Committee shall be an “outside director” within the meaning of Code
Section 162(m) and the regulations issued
thereunder.
|
| (f) |
“Common
Stock”
shall mean common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company
(subject to adjustment as described in Section 12) reserved for
Options
and Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to this Plan.
|
| (g) |
The
“Company”
shall mean Cape Coastal Trading Corporation, a Delaware
corporation.
|
| (h) |
“Fair
Market Value”
as of any date shall mean (i) if such stock is listed on the Nasdaq
National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or an established stock
exchange,
the price of such stock at the close of the regular trading session
of
such market or exchange on such date, as reported by The
Wall Street Journal
or
a comparable reporting service, or, if no sale of such stock shall
have
occurred on such date, on the next preceding day on which there
was a sale
of stock; (ii) if such stock is not so listed on the Nasdaq National
Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market, or an established stock exchange,
the
average of the closing “bid” and “asked” prices quoted by the OTC Bulletin
Board, the National Quotation Bureau, or any comparable reporting
service
on such date or, if there are no quoted “bid” and “asked” prices on such
date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes;
or (iii)
if such stock is not publicly traded as of such date, the per share
value
as determined by the Board, or the Committee, in its sole discretion
by
applying principles of valuation with respect to the Company’s Common
Stock.
|
| (i) |
The
“Internal
Revenue Code”
or “Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to
time.
|
| (j) |
“Option”
means an incentive stock option or nonqualified stock option granted
pursuant to the Plan.
|
| (k) |
“Parent”
shall mean any corporation which owns, directly or indirectly in
an
unbroken chain, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting
power of
the Company’s outstanding stock.
|
| (l) |
The
“Participant”
means (i) an employee of the Company or any Affiliate to whom an
incentive
stock option has been granted pursuant to Section 9, (ii) a consultant
or
advisor to or director, employee or officer of the Company or any
Affiliate to whom a nonqualified stock option has been granted
pursuant to
Section 10, or (iii) a consultant or advisor to, or director, employee
or
officer of the Company or any Affiliate to whom a Restricted Stock
Award
has been granted pursuant to Section
11.
|
| (m) |
The
“Plan”
means the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended hereafter from
time to
time, including the form of Option and Award Agreements as they
may be
modified by the Administrator from time to
time.
|
| (n) |
“Restricted
Stock Award”
shall mean any grant of restricted shares of Common Stock of the
Company
pursuant to Section 11 hereof.
|
| (o) |
A
“Subsidiary”
shall mean any corporation of which fifty percent (50%) or more
of the
total voting power of outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly
in an unbroken chain, by the
Company.
|
SECTION
2.
PURPOSE
The
Plan
has been established to promote the interests of the Company, its Affiliates
and
its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional employees,
consultants and directors; (ii) motivating such employees, consultants and
directors by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range
performance goals; and (iii) enabling such employees, consultants and directors
to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the
Company.
It
is the
intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting of Options
which will qualify as “incentive stock options” under the provisions of Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision, pursuant to
Section 9 of this Plan, through the granting of Options that are nonqualified
stock options pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, and through the granting
of
Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan. With respect
to
incentive stock option options, adoption of this Plan shall be and is expressly
subject to the condition of approval by the shareholders of the Company within
twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the Plan by the Board
of
Directors. Any incentive stock options granted after adoption of the Plan
by the
Board of Directors shall be treated as nonqualified stock options if shareholder
approval is not obtained within such 12-month period.
SECTION
3.
EFFECTIVE
DATE OF PLAN
The
Plan
shall be effective as of the date of adoption by the Board of Directors,
subject
to approval by the shareholders of the Company as required in Section
2.
SECTION
4.
ADMINISTRATION
The
Plan
shall be administered by the Board, by a Committee which may be appointed
by the
Board from time to time or by one or more officers designated by the Board
or
Committee (collectively referred to as the “Administrator”). Except as otherwise
provided herein, the Administrator shall have all of the powers vested in
it
under the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive
authority (where applicable and within the limitations described in the Plan)
to
determine, in its sole discretion, whether an Award shall be granted; the
individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted;
the number of shares subject to each such Award; the option price; and any
other
terms and conditions of each Award. The Administrator shall have full power
and
authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules,
regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form
and
condi-tions of the respective agreements evidencing each Award (which may
vary
from Participant to Participant) and to make all other determinations necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Administrator’s
interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made
by the
Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive
and binding on all parties concerned.
No
member
of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of
the
Plan. In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder,
any
action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall
be
taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to
the
written resolution of all Committee members.
SECTION
5.
PARTICIPANTS
The
Administrator shall from time to time, at its discretion and without approval
of
the shareholders, designate those employees of the Company or any Affiliate
to
whom incentive stock options shall be granted pursuant to Section 9 of the
Plan;
those employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company
or
of any Affiliate to whom nonqualified stock options shall be granted pursuant
to
Section 10 of the Plan; and those employees, officers, directors, consultants
and advisors of the Company or any Affiliate to whom Restricted Stock Awards
shall be granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan; provided, however, that
consultants or advisors shall not be eligible to receive Awards hereunder
unless
such consultant or advisor renders bona fide services to the Company or
Affiliate and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale
of
securities in a capital raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly
promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities. The Administrator may
grant additional Awards under this Plan to some or all Participants then
holding
Awards or may grant Awards solely or partially to new Participants. In
designating Participants, the Administrator shall also determine the number
of
shares of Common Stock subject to each Award. The Administrator from time
to
time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the
Plan.
SECTION
6.
STOCK
The
Common Stock to be issued under this Plan shall consist of authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock. Two million five hundred thousand (2,500,000)
shares of Common Stock shall be reserved and available for Awards under the
Plan; provided, however, that the total number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for Awards under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 12 of the Plan; and provided, further, that all shares of Common
Stock reserved and available under the Plan shall constitute the maximum
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued through incentive
stock options. In the event that (i) any outstanding Option or Restricted
Stock
Award under the Plan expires for any reason, (ii) any portion of an outstanding
Option is terminated prior to exercise, or (iii) any portion of a Restricted
Stock Award expires is terminated prior to the lapsing of any risks of
forfeiture on such Award, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised
portion of such Option or to the forfeited portion of such Restricted Stock
Award shall continue to be reserved for Options and Restricted Stock Awards
under the Plan and may be optioned or awarded hereunder.
SECTION
7.
DURATION
OF PLAN
Incentive
stock options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time during
a
period of ten (10) years from the effective date as defined in Section 3.
Nonqualified stock options and Restricted Stock Awards may be granted pursuant
to the Plan from time to time after the effective date of the Plan and until
the
Plan is discontinued or terminated by the Board. Any incentive stock option
granted during such ten-year period and any nonqualified stock option or
Restricted Stock Award granted prior to the termination of the Plan by the
Board
shall remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the option
or
award as specified in the written stock option or restricted stock award
agreement and shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this
Plan.
SECTION
8.
PAYMENT
Participants
may pay for shares of Common Stock upon exercise of Options granted pursuant
to
this Plan with (i) cash, (ii) personal check, (iii) certified check, (iv)
mature, previously-owned shares of the Common Stock valued at such Common
Stock’s then Fair Market Value, (v) broker-assisted exercise, or (vi) such other
form of payment as may be authorized by the Administrator; provided, however,
that Optionee shall not be permitted to pay the option price in the form
of a
broker-assisted exercise or in the form of mature, previously-acquired shares
of
Common Stock until after the effective date of an initial public offering
of the
Common Stock; and provided, further, that Optionee shall not be permitted
to pay
the option price in the form of a broker-assisted exercise or in the form
of
mature, previously-acquired shares of Common Stock if payment in such form
will
cause the Company to recognize a compensation expense under generally accepted
accounting principles. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit
the
forms of payment available to the Participant and may exercise such discretion
any time prior to the termination of the option granted to the Participant
or
upon any exercise of the option by the Participant.
For
purposes of this Section 8, “mature, previously-acquired shares of Common Stock”
shall include shares of Common Stock that were acquired by the Participant
through an open-market purchase, or have been owned by the Participant for
a
minimum of six months at the time of exercise or for such other period of
time
as may be required by generally accepted accounting principles. “Broker-assisted
exercise” means a written notice pursuant to which the Participant, upon
exercise of a stock option, irrevocably instructs a broker or dealer to sell
a
sufficient number of shares or loan a sufficient amount of money to pay all
or a
portion of the exercise price of such option and/or any related withholding
tax
obligations and to remit such sums to the Company, and directs the Company
to
deliver stock certificates to be issued upon such exercise directly to such
broker or dealer.
With
respect to payment in the form of Common Stock of the Company, the Administrator
may require advance approval or adopt such rules as it deems necessary to
assure
compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect,
of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
if
applicable.
SECTION
9.
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
Each
incentive stock option granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be evidenced
by
a written incentive stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”). The Option
Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the
Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however,
that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be
subject
to the following terms and con-ditions:
(a) Number
of Shares and Option Price.
The
Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the incentive
stock option. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(d), or any successor
provision, the option price per share shall not be less than one hundred
percent
(100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date
the
Administrator grants the option; provided, however, that if a Participant
owns
stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
power
of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary,
the
option price per share of an incentive stock option granted to such Participant
shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant of the option.
The
Administrator shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the
option price and shall be fully protected in so doing.
(b) Term
and Exercisability of Incentive Stock Option.
The
term during which any incentive stock option granted under the Plan may be
exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator. Except
as
permitted by Code Section 424(d), or any successor provision, in no event
shall
any incentive stock option be exercisable during a term of more than ten
(10)
years after the date on which it is granted; provided, however, that if a
Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent
or
any Subsidiary, the incentive stock option granted to such Participant shall
be
exercisable during a term of not more than five (5) years after the date
on
which it is granted.
The
Option Agreement shall state when the incentive stock option becomes exercisable
and shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised.
In the event an incentive stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner
of
exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately
shall be specified in the Option Agreement. The Administrator may acceler-ate
the exercisability of any incentive stock option granted hereunder which
is not
immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.
(c) Nontransferability.
No
incentive stock option shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the
Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the Participant’s lifetime, the incentive stock option may be exercised
only by the Participant. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of
any
incentive stock option granted under the Plan during the Participant’s lifetime,
such transfer shall be void and the incentive stock option, to the extent
not
fully exercised, shall terminate.
(d) No
Rights as Shareholder.
A
Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights
as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an Option until the
date
of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares. No adjustment
shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash,
securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the
record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued
(except as otherwise provided in Section 12 of the Plan).
(e) Withholding.
The
Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future
wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy
any
and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the
Participant’s exercise of an incentive stock option or a “disqualifying
disposition” of shares acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock
option as defined in Code Section 421(b). In the event the Participant is
required under the Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and
employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant
to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such
obligation, in whole or in part, by electing to have the Company withhold
shares
of Option Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the
exercise of the incentive stock option having a Fair Market Value equal to
the
minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding
rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are
applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no
event
may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares having a Fair Market Value
in
excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s
election to have shares withheld for this purpose shall be made on or before
the
date the incentive stock option is exercised or, if later, the date that
the
amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such
election shall be approved by the Board and otherwise comply with such rules
as
the Board may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor
provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.
(f) Other
Provisions.
The
Option Agreement authorized under this Section 9 shall contain such other
provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable. Any such Option Agreement
shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the
Option
as shall be necessary to ensure that such Option will be considered an
“incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
or to conform to any change therein.
SECTION
10.
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS
Each
nonqualified stock option granted pursuant to this Section 10 shall be evidenced
by a written nonqualified stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”). The
Option Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time
by
the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided,
however, that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with
and
be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Number
of Shares and Option Price.
The
Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the
nonqualified stock option. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator,
the
option price per share shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the per share
Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Administrator grants the
option.
(b) Term
and Exercisability of Nonqualified Stock Option.
The
term during which any nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan may
be
exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator. The Option
Agreement shall state when the nonqualified stock option becomes exercisable
and
shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised.
In
the event a nonqualified stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner
of
exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately
shall be specified in the Option Agreement. The Administrator may acceler-ate
the exercisability of any nonqualified stock option granted hereunder which
is
not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.
(c) Withholding.
The
Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future
wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy
any
and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the
Participant’s exercise of a nonqualified stock option. In the event the
Participant is required under the Option Agreement to pay the Company or
Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or Affiliate
respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the
Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may
adopt,
permit the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by
delivering shares of the Common Stock or by electing to have the Company
or
Affiliate withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant
as a result of the exercise of the nonqualified stock option having a Fair
Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the
minimum
statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including
payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from
such exercise. In no event may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares
having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax
withholding. The Participant’s election to have shares withheld for this purpose
shall be made on or before the date the nonqualified stock option is exercised
or, if later, the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined
under
applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the Administrator
and
otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure
compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect,
of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
if
applicable.
(d) Transferability.
The
Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Participant to transfer
any or all nonqualified stock options to any member of the Participant’s
“immediate family” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) promulgated under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor provision, or to one
or
more trusts whose beneficiaries are members of such Participant’s “immediate
family” or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners;
provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any consideration
for the
transfer and such transferred nonqualified stock option shall continue to
be
subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such nonqualified
stock option immediately prior to its transfer.
(e) No
Rights as Shareholder.
A
Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights
as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by a nonqualified stock
option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such
shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary,
whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights
for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is
actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 11 of the
Plan).
(f) Other
Provisions.
The
Option Agreement authorized under this Section 10 shall contain such other
provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.
SECTION
11.
RESTRICTED
STOCK AWARDS
Each
Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to this Section 11 shall be evidenced
by
a written restricted stock agreement (the “Restricted Stock Agreement”). The
Restricted Stock Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from
time to
time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant;
provided, however, that each Participant and each Restricted Stock Agreement
shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Number
of Shares.
The
Restricted Stock Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common
Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award.
(b) Risks
of Forfeiture.
The
Restricted Stock Agreement shall set forth the risks of forfeiture, if any,
which shall apply to the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted
Stock
Award, and shall specify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall
lapse. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the manner in
which
such risks of forfeiture shall lapse but only with respect to those shares
of
Common Stock which are restricted as of the effective date of the
modification.
(c) Issuance
of Restricted Shares.
The
Company shall cause to be issued a stock certificate representing such shares
of
Common Stock in the Participant’s name, and shall deliver such certificate to
the Participant; provided, however, that the Company shall place a legend
on
such certificate describing the risks of forfeiture and other transfer
restrictions set forth in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement and
providing for the cancellation and return of such certificate if the shares
of
Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award are forfeited.
(d) Rights
as Shareholder.
Until
the risks of forfeiture have lapsed or the shares subject to such Restricted
Stock Award have been forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote
the
shares of Common Stock represented by such stock certificates and shall receive
all dividends attributable to such shares, but the Participant shall not
have
any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such shares.
(e) Withholding
Taxes.
The
Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future
wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy
any
and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the
Participant’s Restricted Stock Award. In the event the Participant is required
under the Restricted Stock Agreement to pay the Company or its Affiliate,
or
make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or its Affiliate respecting
payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator
may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit
the
Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering
shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant
to a
Restricted Stock Award on which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed.
Such
shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax
withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal
and
state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the
supplemental income resulting from the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture
on
such Restricted Stock. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having
a
Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding.
The
Participant’s election to deliver shares of Common Stock for this purpose shall
be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the
Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may
adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as
then
in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, if applicable.
(f) Nontransferability.
No
Restricted Stock Award shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the
Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
prior to the date the risks of forfeiture described in the Restricted Stock
Agreement have lapsed. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan prior to such date, such transfer
shall be void and the Restricted Stock Award shall terminate.
(g) Other
Provisions.
The
Restricted Stock Agreement authorized under this Section 11 shall contain
such
other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.
SECTION
12.
RECAPITALIZATION,
SALE, MERGER, EXCHANGE OR LIQUIDATION
In
the
event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease
in
the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company, the Board may, in its sole discretion, adjust
the
number of shares of Common Stock reserved under Section 6 hereof, the number
of
shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and, if applicable,
the price per share thereof to reflect such change. Additional shares which
may
become covered by the Award pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject
to the
same restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which the
adjustment relates.
Unless
otherwise provided in the Option or Restricted Stock Agreement, in the event
of
an acquisition of the Company through the sale of substantially all of the
Company’s assets and the consequent discontinuance of its business or through a
merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization, reclassification, extraordinary
dividend, divestiture or liquidation of the Company (collectively referred
to as
a “transaction”), the Board may provide for one or more of the
following:
(a) the
equitable acceleration of the exercisability of any outstanding Options and
the
lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on any Restricted Stock Awards;
(b) the
complete termination of this Plan, the cancellation of outstanding Options
not
exercised prior to a date specified by the Board (which date shall give
Participants a reasonable period of time in which to exercise the Options
prior
to the effectiveness of such transaction), and the cancellation of any
Restricted Stock Awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not
lapsed;
(c)
that
Participants holding outstanding Options shall receive, with respect to each
share of Common Stock subject to such Options, as of the effective date of
any
such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market
Value
of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date
of
such transaction over the option price per share of such Options; provided
that
the Board may, in lieu of such cash payment, distribute to such Participants
shares of Common Stock of the Company or shares of stock of any corporation
succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction, such shares having
a value
equal to the cash payment herein;
(d)
that
Participants holding outstanding Restricted Stock Awards shall receive, with
respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Awards, as of the
effective date of any such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the Fair
Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the
effective date of such transaction; provided that the Board may, in lieu
of such
cash payment, distribute to such Participants shares of Common Stock of the
Company or shares of stock of any corporation succeeding the Company by reason
of such transaction, such shares having a value equal to the cash payment
herein;
(e) the
continuance of the Plan with respect to the exercise of Options which were
outstanding as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for such
transaction and provide to Participants holding such Options the right to
exercise their respective Options as to an economically equivalent number
of
shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such
transaction; and
(f) the
continuance of the Plan with respect to Restricted Stock Awards for which
the
risks of forfeiture have not lapsed as of the date of adoption by the Board
of
such plan for such transaction and provide to Participants holding such Awards
the right to receive an economically equivalent number of shares of stock
of the
corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction.
The
Board
may restrict the rights of or the applicability of this Section 12 to the
extent
necessary to comply with Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,
the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or regulation. The
grant
of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or
power
of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or
changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or
consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of
its
business or assets.
SECTION
13.
SECURITIES
LAW COMPLIANCE AND
RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER
No
shares
of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and until there
has
been compliance, in the opinion of Company’s counsel, with all applicable legal
requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities
laws
and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the issuance of
Common Stock to Participant, the Administrator may require Participant to
(i)
represent that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired for investment
and
not resale and to make such other representations as the Administrator shall
deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable
securities laws, and (ii) represent that Participant shall not dispose of
the
shares of Common Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any
other
applicable securities laws or any company policies then in effect.
As
a
further condition to the grant of any stock option or the issuance of Common
Stock to Participant, Participant agrees to the following:
(a) In
the
event the Company advises Participant that it plans an underwritten public
offering of its Common Stock in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended, and the underwriter(s) seek to impose restrictions under which certain
shareholders may not sell or contract to sell or grant any option to buy
or
otherwise dispose of part or all of their stock purchase rights of the Common
Stock underlying Awards, Participant will not, for a period not to exceed
180
days from the prospectus, sell or contract to sell or grant an option to
buy or
otherwise dispose of any Award granted to Participant pursuant to the Plan
or
any of the underlying shares of Common Stock without the prior written consent
of the underwriter(s) or its representative(s).
(b) In
the
event the Company makes any public offering of its securities and determines
in
its sole discretion that it is necessary to reduce the number of issued but
unexercised stock purchase rights so as to comply with any state’s securities or
Blue Sky law limitations with respect thereto, the Board of Directors of
the
Company shall have the right (i) to accelerate the exercisability of any
Option
and the date on which such Option must be exercised, provided that the Company
gives Participant prior written notice of such acceleration, and (ii) to
cancel
any Options or portions thereof which Participant does not exercise prior
to or
contemporaneously with such public offering.
(c) In
the
event of a transaction (as defined in Section 12 of the Plan), Participant
will
comply with Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933 and any other restrictions
imposed under other applicable legal or accounting principles if Participant
is
an “affiliate” (as defined in such applicable legal and accounting principles)
at the time of the transaction, and Participant will execute any documents
necessary to ensure compliance with such rules.
The
Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate issued
upon the exercise of an Option or upon the grant of a Restricted Stock Award
pursuant to the Plan to assure compliance with this Section 13.
SECTION
14.
AMENDMENT
OF THE PLAN
The
Board
may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue
the
Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however, that no such
revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 12, shall impair
the
terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such
revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant without
the
consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such revision
or
amendment shall (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the
Plan
except as provided in Section 12 hereof, (ii) change the desig-nation of
the
class of employees eligible to receive Awards, (iii) decrease the price at
which
Options may be granted, or (iv) materially increase the benefits accruing
to Participants under the Plan, without the approval of the shareholders
of the
Company if such approval is required for compliance with the requirements
of any
applicable law or regulation. Furthermore, the Plan may not, without the
approval of the shareholders, be amended in any manner that will cause incentive
stock options to fail to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
SECTION
15.
NO
OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION
The
granting of an Option shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to
exercise such Option. Further, the granting of any Award hereunder shall
not
impose upon the Company or any Affiliate any obligation to retain the
Participant in its employ for any period.
Appendix
B
STOCKHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated
as
of
[_________],
2005
between
[_______________]
a
Delaware corporation
and
[__________________]
as
Rights
Agent
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
| |
|
Page
|
| |
|
|
| |
STOCKHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
|
|
| |
|
|
|
ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
| |
|
|
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
| |
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
THE
RIGHTS
|
9
|
| |
|
|
|
2.1
|
Summary
of Rights
|
9
|
| |
|
|
|
2.2
|
Legend
on Common Stock Certificates
|
9
|
| |
|
|
|
2.3
|
Exercise
of Rights; Separation of Rights
|
10
|
| |
|
|
|
2.4
|
Adjustments
to Exercise Price; Number of Rights
|
12
|
| |
|
|
|
2.5
|
Date
on Which Exercise is Effective
|
13
|
| |
|
|
|
2.6
|
Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates
|
13
|
| |
|
|
|
2.7
|
Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange
|
13
|
| |
|
|
|
2.8
|
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates
|
14
|
| |
|
|
|
2.9
|
Persons
Deemed Owners
|
15
|
| |
|
|
|
2.10
|
Delivery
and Cancellation of Certificates
|
15
|
| |
|
|
|
2.11
|
Agreement
of Rights Holders
|
15
|
| |
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
|
16
|
| |
|
|
|
3.1
|
Flip-in
|
16
|
| |
|
|
|
3.2
|
Flip-over
|
17
|
| |
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
THE
RIGHTS AGENT
|
18
|
| |
|
|
|
4.1
|
General
|
18
|
| |
|
|
|
4.2
|
Merger
or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent
|
19
|
| |
|
|
|
4.3
|
Duties
of Rights Agent
|
19
|
| |
|
|
|
4.4
|
Change
of Rights Agent
|
21
|
| |
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
21
|
| |
|
|
|
5.1
|
Redemption;
Independent Director Review; and Stockholder Referendum
|
21
|
| |
|
|
|
5.2
|
Expiration
|
23
|
| |
|
|
|
5.3
|
Issuance
of New Rights Certificates
|
23
|
| |
|
|
|
5.4
|
Supplements
and Amendments
|
23
|
| |
|
|
|
5.5
|
Fractional
Shares
|
24
|
|
5.6
|
Rights
of Action
|
24
|
| |
|
|
|
5.7
|
Holder
of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder
|
24
|
| |
|
|
|
5.8
|
Notice
of Proposed Actions
|
24
|
| |
|
|
|
5.9
|
Notices
|
25
|
| |
|
|
|
5.10
|
Suspension
of Exercisability
|
25
|
| |
|
|
|
5.11
|
Costs
of Enforcement
|
25
|
| |
|
|
|
5.12
|
Successors
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.13
|
Benefits
of this Agreement
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.14
|
Determination
and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.15
|
Fiduciary
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.16
|
Descriptive
Headings; Section References
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.17
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
26
|
| |
|
|
|
5.18
|
Counterparts
|
27
|
| |
|
|
|
5.19
|
Severability
|
27
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Exhibits
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A.
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Form of
Rights
Certificate |
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B.
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Certificate
of
Designations and Terms of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock
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STOCKHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
STOCKHOLDER
PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(as
amended from time to time, this “Agreement”),
dated
as of [______],
2005,
between [______________________],
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
[______________________],
a
[__________]
corporation, as Rights Agent (the “Rights
Agent”,
which
term shall include any successor Rights Agent hereunder).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the issuance of a one
right
(“Right”)
on
each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as of the close of business
on [_____________], 2005 (the “Record
Date”)
and
(b) [______________________]
each
share of Common Stock issued and outstanding after the Record Date and prior
to
the Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and, to the extent provided
herein,
each share of Common Stock issued after the Separation Time;
WHEREAS,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Right entitles the holder
thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities or assets of the
Company (or, in certain cases, securities of certain other entities) pursuant
to
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on behalf of the Company,
and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection with the issuance,
transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as hereinafter
defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective agreements
set
forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions.
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
have the meanings indicated:
“Acquiring
Person” shall mean any Person who is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of 20% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that the
term
“Acquiring Person” shall not include any Person (i) who is the Beneficial Owner
of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of this
Agreement, or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition by
the
Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter or thereafter
as
such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a stock
dividend or stock split) of any additional shares of Common Stock while such
Person is or as a result of which such Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of
20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) who becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
but
who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock without any plan
or
intention to seek or affect control of the Company, if such Person promptly
divests, or promptly enters into an agreement with, and satisfactory to,
the
Company, in its sole discretion, to divest, (without exercising or retaining
any
power, including voting power, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares
of Common Stock (or securities convertible into, exchangeable into or
exercisable for Common Stock) so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial
Owner of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) who
Beneficially Owns shares of Common Stock consisting solely of one or more
of (A)
shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned pursuant to the grant or exercise
of
an option granted to such Person (an “Option Holder”) by the Company in
connection with an agreement to merge with, or acquire, the Company entered
into
prior to a Flip-in Date, (B) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible
into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) Beneficially Owned
by
such Option Holder or its Affiliates or Associates at the time of grant of
such
option and (C) shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into,
exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock) acquired by Affiliates
or
Associates of such Option Holder after the time of such grant which, in the
aggregate, amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
In
addition, the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock
ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or a Subsidiary of
the
Company (or any entity or trustee holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant
to the terms of any such plan or for the purpose of funding any such plan
or
funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or of any
Subsidiary of the Company) shall not be an Acquiring Person.
“Affiliate”
and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in
Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule is in effect on the date
of this
Agreement.
“Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
A
Person
shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner”, and to have “Beneficial Ownership” of,
and to “Beneficially Own”, 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
of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, as such Rules
are in
effect on the date of this Agreement, as well as any securities as to which
such
Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to become
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 (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;
provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the “Beneficial Owner”, or
to have “Beneficial Ownership” of, or to “Beneficially Own”, any security (i)
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 (ii) 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,
except if 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 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.
“Business
Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York are generally authorized or obligated
by law
or executive order to close.
“Close
of
Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. New York City time on such date
or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the
next
succeeding Business Day.
“Common
Stock” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the
Company.
“Company”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Election
to Exercise” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d).
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange
Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).
“Exchange
Time” shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the Rights shall
terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c).
“Exercise
Price” shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a holder may purchase the
securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right. Until adjustment thereof
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price shall equal
$[_____].
“Expansion
Factor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).
“Expiration
Time” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time, (ii) the Redemption
Time, (iii) the Close of Business on[____________],
2005,
unless, for purposes of this clause (iii), extended by action of the
Stockholders (in which case the applicable time shall be the time at which
it
has been so extended) and (iv) immediately prior to the effective time of
a
consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange that does not constitute
a
Flip-over Transaction or Event.
“Flip-in
Date” shall mean the tenth business day after any Stock Acquisition Date or such
earlier or later date and time as the Board of Directors of the Company may
from
time to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Flip-in Date that would
otherwise have occurred.
“Flip-over
Entity,” for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the case of a Flip-over
Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the definition thereof, the
Person issuing any securities into which shares of Common Stock are being
converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are being issued, the other
Person that is a party to such Flip-over Transaction or Event and (ii) in
the
case of a Flip-over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the
definition thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the (A)
assets
or (B) operating income or cash flow being transferred in such Flip-over
Transaction or Event, provided in all cases if such Person is a Subsidiary
of
another Person, the ultimate parent entity of such Person shall be the Flip-over
Entity.
“Flip-over
Stock” shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity interest) with the
greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors (or other persons
similarly responsible for the direction of the business and affairs) of the
Flip-over Entity.
“Flip-over
Transaction or Event” shall mean a transaction or series of transactions, on or
after a Flip-in Date, in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the Company shall
consolidate or merge or participate in a statutory share exchange with any
other
Person if, at the time of consummation of the consolidation, merger or statutory
share exchange or at the time the Company enters into any agreement with
respect
to any such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange, the Acquiring
Person is the Beneficial Owner of 90% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or controls the Board of Directors of the Company and either
(A)
any term of or arrangement concerning the treatment of shares of capital
stock
in such consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange relating to the
Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements relating
to
other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the transaction
or
series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or
Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or otherwise
transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer)
assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either book
value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the operating
income or cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole)
to
any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates
or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by the Company
(or
any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer
of
assets, the Acquiring Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates controls
the
Board of Directors of the Company. For purposes of the foregoing description,
the term “Acquiring Person” shall include any Acquiring Person and its
Affiliates and Associates, counted together as a single Person. An Acquiring
Person shall be deemed to control the Company’s Board of Directors when, on or
following a Stock Acquisition Date, the persons who were directors of the
Company (or persons nominated and/or appointed as directors by vote of a
majority of such persons) before the Stock Acquisition Date shall cease to
constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors.
“Market
Price” per share of any securities on any date shall mean the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as described
below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and including the
Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however, that if any
event described in Section 2.4, or any analogous event, shall have caused
the
closing prices used to determine the Market Price on any Trading Days during
such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully comparable with the closing
price
on such date, each such closing price so used shall be appropriately adjusted
in
order to make it fully comparable with the closing price on such date. The
closing price per share of any securities on any date shall be the last reported
sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place or is quoted
on
such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way,
for
each share of such securities, 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, Inc. or, if the securities
are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.,
as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with
respect
to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which
the
securities are listed or admitted to trading or, if the securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, as reported
by the NASDAQ National Market System or such other system then in use, or,
if on
any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any
national securities exchange or 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 securities selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company; provided, however, that if on any such date the securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or traded
in the
over-the-counter market, the closing price per share of such securities on
such
date shall mean the fair value per share of such securities on such date
as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after
consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm, and set
forth
in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
“Option
Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Acquiring
Person.
“Person”
shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, limited liability company,
association, group (as such term is used in Rule l3d-5 under the Exchange
Act,
as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or
other
entity.
“Preferred
Stock” shall mean Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value,
of the Company created by a Certificate of Designation and Terms in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit
B
hereto
appropriately completed.
“Qualifying
Offer” shall mean an offer determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
to have, to the extent required for the type of offer specified, each of
the
following characteristics:
(a) a
fully
financed all-cash tender offer or an exchange offer offering shares of common
stock of the offeror, or a combination thereof, in each such case for any
and
all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock;
(b) an
offer
that has commenced within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange
Act
and is made by an offeror (including Affiliates or Associates of such offeror)
that beneficially owns no more than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock as
of the
date of such commencement;
(c) an
offer
whose per-share offer price is greater than the highest reported market price
for the Common Stock in the immediately preceding 24 months, with, in the
case
of an offer that includes shares of common stock of the offeror, such per-share
offer price being determined using the lowest reported market price for common
stock of the offeror during the five trading days immediately preceding and
the
five trading days immediately following the commencement of such offer within
the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) under the Exchange Act;
(d) an
offer
that, within 20 Business Days after the commencement date of the offer (or
within 10 Business Days after any increase in the offer consideration), does
not
result in a nationally recognized investment banking firm retained by the
Board
of Directors of the Company rendering an opinion to the Board of Directors
of
the Company that the consideration being offered to the Stockholders is either
unfair or inadequate;
(e) if
the
offer includes shares of common stock of the offeror, an offer pursuant to
which
(i) the offeror shall permit a nationally recognized investment banking firm
retained by the Board of Directors of the Company and legal counsel designated
by the Company to have access to such offeror’s books, records, management,
accountants and other appropriate outside advisers for the purposes of
permitting such investment banking firm and such legal counsel to conduct
a due
diligence review of the offeror in order to permit such investment banking
firm
(relying as appropriate on the advice of such legal counsel) to be able to
render an opinion to the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to
whether the consideration being offered to the Stockholders is fair or adequate,
and (ii) within 10 Business Days after such investment banking firm shall
have
notified the Company and the offeror that it had completed the due diligence
review to its satisfaction (or following completion of such due diligence
review
within 10 Business Days after any increase in the consideration being offered),
such investment banking firm does not render an opinion to the Board of
Directors of the Company that the consideration being offered to the
Stockholders is either unfair or inadequate and such investment banking firm
does not after the expiration of such 10 Business Day period render an opinion
to the Board of Directors of the Company that the consideration being offered
to
the Stockholders has become either unfair or inadequate based on a subsequent
disclosure or discovery of a development or developments that have had or
are
reasonably likely to have a material adverse affect on the value of the common
stock of the offeror;
(f) an
offer
that is subject only to the minimum tender condition described below in item
(i)
of this definition and other customary terms and conditions, which conditions
shall not include any requirements with respect to the offeror or its agents
being permitted any due diligence with respect to the books, records,
management, accountants and other outside advisers of the Company;
(g) an
offer
pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment
of
the offeror that the offer will remain open for at least 120 Business Days
and,
if a Special Meeting is duly requested in accordance with Section 5.1(c),
for,
at least 10 Business Days after the date of the Special Meeting or, if no
Special Meeting is held within 90 Business Days following receipt of the
Special
Meeting Notice in accordance with Section 5.1(c), for at least 10 Business
Days
following such 90 Business Day Period;
(h) an
offer
pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment
by
the offeror that, in addition to the minimum time periods specified in item
(g)
of this definition, the offer, it if is otherwise to expire prior thereto,
will
be extended for at least 20 Business Days after any increase in the price
offered, and after any bona fide alternative offer is commenced within the
meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the Exchange Act;
(i) an
offer
that is conditioned on a minimum of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of the Common Stock being tendered and not withdrawn as of the offer’s
expiration date, which condition shall not be waivable;
(j) an
offer
pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment
by
the offeror to consummate as promptly as practicable upon successful completion
of the offer a second step transaction whereby all shares of the Common Stock
not tendered into the offer will be acquired at the same consideration per
share
actually paid pursuant to the offer, subject to stockholders’ statutory
appraisal rights, if any; and
(k) an
offer
pursuant to which the Company has received an irrevocable written commitment
of
the offeror that no amendments will be made to the offer to reduce the offer
consideration, or otherwise change the terms of the offer in a way that is
adverse to a tendering stockholder;
(l) an
offer
pursuant to which the Company has received the written representation and
certification of the offeror and, in their individual capacities, the written
representations and certifications of the offeror’s Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer, that (i) all facts about the offeror that would
be
material to making an investor’s decision to accept the offer have been fully
and accurately disclosed as of
the date
of the commencement of the offer within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the
Exchange Act, and (ii) all such new facts will be fully and accurately disclosed
on a prompt basis during the entire period during which the offer remains
open,
and all required Exchange Act reports will be filed by the offeror in a timely
manner during such period; and
(m) if
the
offer includes shares of common stock of the offeror, (i) the offeror is
a
publicly owned United States corporation, and its common stock is freely
tradable and is listed or admitted to trading on either the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. or the NASDAQ National Market System, (ii) no stockholder
approval of the offeror is required to issue such common stock, or, if required,
has already been obtained, (iii) no Person (including such Person’s Affiliates
and Associates) beneficially owns more than 15% of the voting stock of the
offeror at the time of commencement of the offer or at any time during the
term
of the offer, and (iv) no other class of voting stock of the offeror is
outstanding, and the offeror meets the registrant eligibility requirements
for
use of Form S-3 for registering securities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended (the “Securities Act”); including, without limitation, the filing of all
required Exchange Act reports in a timely manner during the 12 calendar months
prior to the date of commencement of the offer.
For
the
purposes of the definition of Qualifying Offer, “fully financed” shall mean that
the offeror has sufficient funds for the offer and related expenses which
shall
be evidenced by (i) firm, unqualified, written commitments from responsible
financial institutions having the necessary financial capacity, accepted
by the
offeror, to provide funds for such offer subject only to customary terms
and
conditions, (ii) cash or cash equivalents then available to the offeror,
set
apart and maintained solely for the purpose of funding the offer with an
irrevocable written commitment being provided by the offeror to the Board
of
Directors of the Company to maintain such availability until the offer is
consummated or withdrawn, or (iii) a combination of the foregoing; which
evidence has been provided to the Company prior to, or upon, commencement
of the
offer. If an offer becomes a Qualifying Offer in accordance with this definition
but subsequently ceases to be a Qualifying Offer as a result of the failure
at a
later date to continue to satisfy any of the requirements of this definition,
such offer shall cease to be a Qualifying Offer and the provisions of Section
5.1(c) shall no longer be applicable to such offer, provided the actual
redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 5.1(c) shall not
have
already occurred.
“Record
Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Redemption
Price” shall mean an amount equal to one tenth of one cent, $0.001.
“Redemption
Time” shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the Rights shall
terminate pursuant to Section 5.1.
“Right”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Rights
Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Rights
Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c).
“Rights
Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).
“Separation
Time” shall mean the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business
Day (or such later date as the Board of Directors of the Company may from
time
to time fix by resolution adopted prior to the Separation Time that would
otherwise have occurred) after the date on which any Person commences a tender
or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person’s becoming
an Acquiring Person and (ii) the time of the first event causing a Flip-in
Date
to occur; provided, that if the foregoing results in the Separation Time
being
prior to the Record Date, the Separation Time shall be the Record Date and
provided further, that if any tender or exchange offer referred to in clause
(i)
of this paragraph is cancelled, terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to
the
Separation Time without the purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant
thereto, such offer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never
to
have been made.
“Stock
Acquisition Date” shall mean the earlier of (i) the first date on which there
shall be a public announcement by the Company (by any means) that a Person
has
become an Acquiring Person or (ii) the date and time on which any Acquiring
Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of more than 20% of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock.
“Stockholders”
shall mean the holders of record of the Common Stock.
“Subsidiary”
of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which
a
majority of the voting power of the equity securities or a majority of the
equity or membership interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by
such Person.
“Trading
Day,” when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a day on which the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of business or,
if
such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities exchange
on
which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted
to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
ARTICLE
II
THE
RIGHTS
2.1 Summary
of Rights.
As soon
as practicable after the Record Date, the Company will mail a letter summarizing
the terms of the Rights to each holder of record of Common Stock as of the
Record Date, at such holder’s address as shown by the records of the
Company.
2.2 Legend
on Common Stock Certificates.
Certificates for the Common Stock issued on or after the Record Date but
prior
to the Separation Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common
Stock
represented thereby and shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or
otherwise affixed to them the following legend:
“Until
the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred to below),
this
certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights
as
set forth in a Rights Agreement,
dated as
of [_______________],
2005
(as such may be amended from time to time, the “Rights
Agreement”),
between [____________________]
(the
“Company”)
and
[____________________],
as
Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
and
a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of the Company.
Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Rights Agreement,
such
Rights may be redeemed, may become exercisable for securities or assets of
the
Company or securities of another entity, may be exchanged for shares of Common
Stock or other securities or assets of the Company, may expire, may become
void
(if they are “Beneficially Owned” by an “Acquiring Person” or an Affiliate or
Associate thereof, as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement, or
by any
transferee of any of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by separate certificates
and may no longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail
or
arrange for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of
this
certificate without charge after the receipt of a written request
therefor.”
Certificates
representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding at the
Record Date shall, together with the letter mailed pursuant to Section 2.1,
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock evidenced thereby
notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
If
the
Common Stock issued after the Record Date but prior to the Separation Time
shall
be uncertificated, the registration of such Common Stock on the stock transfer
books of the Company shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
represented thereby and the Company shall mail to every Person that holds
such
Common Stock a confirmation of the registration of such Common Stock on the
stock transfer books of the Company, which confirmation will have impressed,
printed, written or stamped thereon or otherwise affixed thereto the above
legend. The Company shall mail or arrange for the mailing of a copy of this
Agreement to any Person that holds Common Stock, as evidenced by the
registration of the Common Stock in the name of such Person on the stock
transfer books of the Company, without charge after the receipt of a written
request therefor.
2.3 Exercise
of Rights; Separation of Rights.
(a)
Subject
to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth,
each Right will entitle the holder thereof, at or after the Separation Time
and
prior to the Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock.
(b) Until
the
Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii) each Right will be
evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of Common Stock (or,
if
the Common Stock shall be uncertificated, by the registration of the associated
Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the Company and the confirmation
thereof provided for in Section 2.2), together, in the case of certificates
issued prior to the Record Date, with the letter mailed to the record holder
thereof pursuant to Section 2.1, and will be transferable only together with,
and will be transferred by a transfer (whether with or without such letter
or
confirmation) of, such associated share.
(c) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, at or after the Separation Time and prior
to
the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may be exercised and (ii) may be transferred
independent of shares of Common Stock. Promptly following the Separation
Time,
the Rights Agent will mail to each holder of record of Common Stock as of
the
Separation Time (other than any Person whose Rights have become void pursuant
to
Section 3.1(b)), at such holder’s address as shown by the records of the Company
(the Company hereby agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights
Agent for this purpose), (x) a certificate (a “Rights
Certificate”)
in
substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing
the number of Rights held by such holder at the Separation Time and having
such
marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or
endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are
not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required
to
comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto
or with
any rule or regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system
on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform
to
usage, and (y) a disclosure statement describing the Rights.
(d) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, Rights may be exercised on any Business
Day
on or after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by submitting
to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights with an
Election to Exercise (an “Election to Exercise”) substantially in the form
attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
in
cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the
order
of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the number
of
Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or
charge
which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer
or
delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates
(or,
if uncertificated, the registration on the stock transfer books of the Company)
for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than that of
the
holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon
receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise accompanied
by
payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from
a
transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or other
securities to be purchased or, in the case of uncertificated shares or other
securities, requisition from a transfer agent a notice setting forth such
number
of shares or other securities to be purchased for which registration will
be
made on the stock transfer books of the Company (the Company hereby irrevocably
authorizing its transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions), and
(B)
if the Company elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates (or
effect registrations on the stock transfer books of the Company) representing
fractional shares, requisition from the depositary selected by the Company
depositary receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or
requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional
shares in accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such
certificates, depositary receipts, notices and/or cash, deliver the same
to or
upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered
(in the case of certificates, depositary receipts or notices) in such name
or
names as may be designated by such holder.
(f) In
case
the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced
by
such holder’s Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the Rights
remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent to such holder or
to
such holder’s duly authorized assigns.
(g) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such action as may
be
necessary to ensure that all shares delivered (or evidenced by registration
on
the stock transfer books of the Company) upon exercise of Rights shall, at
the
time of delivery of the certificates (or registration) for such shares (subject
to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered (or registered) and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii)
take
all such action as may be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in connection
with
the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii) pay when due
and
payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may
be
payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights, provided,
that
the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which
may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates (or the
registration) for shares in a name other than that of the holder of the Rights
being transferred or exercised.
2.4 Adjustments
to Exercise Price; Number of Rights.
(a)
In the
event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the
Separation Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in
Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock,
(x)
the Exercise Price in effect after such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise
Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number
of
shares of Common Stock including any fractional shares in lieu of which such
holder received cash (the “Expansion Factor”) that a holder of one share of
Common Stock immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or combination
would hold thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to
such
adjustment will become that number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor,
and
the adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the
shares
of Common Stock with respect to which the original Rights were associated
(if
they remain outstanding) and the shares issued in respect of such dividend,
subdivision or combination, so that each such share of Common Stock will
have
exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment made pursuant to this
paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective date for the applicable
dividend, subdivision or combination.
In
the
event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the
Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in a transaction
referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common Stock so
issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which Right
shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share (or, if the
Common
Stock shall be uncertificated, such Right shall be evidenced by the registration
of such Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the Company and the
confirmation thereof provided for in Section 2.2). Rights shall be issued
by the
Company in respect of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the
Company after the Separation Time only to the extent provided in Section
5.3.
(b) In
the
event the Company shall at any time after the Record Date and prior to the
Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in respect of,
in
lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to any
non-extraordinary periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common
Stock) whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including
any such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or statutory share
exchange) or otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any,
in the
Exercise Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable
upon exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its
sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to
adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and
the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each
adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall
be
calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the Exercise Price
is
made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare
a
certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts
accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file with the Rights Agent
and
with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of such
certificate.
(d) Rights
Certificates shall represent the right to purchase the securities purchasable
under the terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in
the
securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights, even though such
certificates may continue to express the securities purchasable at the time
of
issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
2.5 Date
on Which Exercise is Effective.
Each
Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued (or registration
on
the stock transfer books is effected) upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
was
duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising
holder
hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender
and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are
closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares
on,
and such certificate (or registration) shall be dated, the next succeeding
Business Day on which the stock transfer books of the Company are
open.
2.6 Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights Certificates.
(a)
The
Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman,
President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced
thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The
signature of any of these officers on the Rights Certificates may be manual
or
facsimile.
Rights
Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who
were
at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold
such
offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly
after the Separation Time, the Company will notify the Rights Agent of such
Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by the Company
to
the Rights Agent for counter-signature, and, subject to Section 3.1(b), the
Rights Agent shall manually countersign and deliver such Rights Certificates
to
the holders of the Rights pursuant to Section 2.3(c). No Rights Certificate
shall be valid for any purpose unless manually countersigned by the Rights
Agent.
(b) Each
Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7 Registration,
Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a)
After
the Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the “Rights
Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The
Rights
Agent is hereby appointed “Rights Registrar” for the purpose of maintaining the
Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and transfers of Rights
after the Separation Time as herein provided. In the event that the Rights
Agent
shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent will have the right
to
examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after the Separation
Time.
After
the
Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender for
registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and subject
to
the provisions of Sections 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will execute, and
the
Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant to the holder’s
instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the same aggregate
number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except
as
otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued upon any registration
of
transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be the valid obligations
of
the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the same benefits under
this
Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such registration of transfer or
exchange.
(c) Every
Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall
be
duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case may be, duly
executed by the holder thereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in
writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under
this
Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto.
(d) The
Company shall not register the transfer or exchange of any Rights which have
become void under Section 3.1(b), been exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or
been
redeemed under Section 5.1.
2.8 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a)
If any
mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to
the
Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the Company
shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as
did
the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If
there
shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent prior to the Expiration
Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft
of any
Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required
by
them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless, then, subject
to
Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the absence of notice to the Company
or
the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired by a bona
fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Rights Agent
shall
countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Rights
Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights
as
did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As
a
condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this Section
2.8,
the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any
other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent) connected
therewith.
(d) Every
new
Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in lieu of any destroyed,
lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost
or
stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and,
subject to Section 3.1(b) shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued
hereunder.
2.9 Persons
Deemed Owners.
Prior
to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time,
the associated Common Stock certificate or notice of transfer, if
uncertificated) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent
and
any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person
in
whose name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such
Common Stock certificate or Common Stock registration, if uncertificated)
is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby
for
all purposes whatsoever, including the payment of the Redemption Price and
neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice
to the
contrary. As used in this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires,
the
term “holder” of any Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or,
prior to the Separation Time, the associated shares of Common
Stock).
2.10 Delivery
and Cancellation of Certificates.
All
Rights Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer
or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Rights Agent,
be
delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly cancelled
by
the Rights Agent. The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent
for
cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and
all
Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Rights
Agent. No Rights Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange
for any Rights Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section 2.10, except
as expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall destroy
all
cancelled Rights Certificates and deliver a certificate of destruction to
the
Company.
2.11 Agreement
of Rights Holders.
Every
holder of Rights by accepting the same consents and agrees with the Company
and
the Rights Agent and with every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior
to
the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only together with,
and
will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of Common
Stock;
(b) after
the
Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be transferable only on the
Rights
Register as provided herein;
(c) prior
to
due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time,
the
associated Common Stock certificate or Common Stock registration, if
uncertificated) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent
and
any agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person
in
whose name the Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the
associated Common Stock certificate or Common Stock registration, if
uncertificated) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor
the
Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights
Beneficially Owned by certain Persons will, under the circumstances set forth
in
Section 3.1(b), become void; and
(e) this
Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time pursuant to Section
2.4(b) or 5.4.
ARTICLE
III
ADJUSTMENTS
TO THE RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
3.1 Flip-in.
(a)
In the
event that prior to the Expiration Time a Flip-in Date shall occur, in
substitution for rights set forth in Section 2.3, except as provided in this
Section 3.1, each Right shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company,
upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to
Section 5.10), that number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate
Market
Price on the Stock Acquisition Date that gave rise to the Flip-in Date equal
to
twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price
(such
right to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of the
holders of Rights generally in the event that on or after such Stock Acquisition
Date any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b), or any analogous
event, shall have occurred with respect to the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned on or after
the
Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate
thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect, of any of the foregoing
shall
become void and any holder of such Rights (including transferees) shall
thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer such Rights under any provision
of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is presented for assignment
or
exercise and the Person presenting the same will not complete the certification
set forth at the end of the form of assignment or notice of election to exercise
and provide such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner
and
its Affiliates and Associates (or former Beneficial Owners and their Affiliates
and Associates) as the Company shall reasonably request, then the Company
shall
be entitled conclusively to deem the Beneficial Owner thereof to be an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a transferee of any of the
foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights evidenced thereby to be void
and
not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The
Board
of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time after a Flip-in
Date
and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial Owner
of
more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock elect to exchange
all
(but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights (which shall not include
Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1(b))
for
shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock
per
Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of holders
of
Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Time any of the events
described in Section 2.4(a) or (b), or any analogous event, shall have occurred
with respect to the Common Stock (such exchange ratio, as adjusted from time
to
time, being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”).
Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to exchange
the Rights, without any further action and without any notice, the right
to
exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other than Rights that
have
become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), whether or not previously exercised,
will thereafter represent only the right to receive a number of shares of
Common
Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board
of
Directors electing to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice
thereof
(specifying the steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange
for Rights) to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than
Rights
that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately
prior
thereto by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each
Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued (or for whom any
registration on the stock transfer books of the Company is made) upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall
for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate (or registration on the stock
transfer books of the Company) shall be dated (or registered as of), the
date
upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered
and payment of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable
by
the holder was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender
and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are
closed,
such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares
on,
and such certificate (or registration on the stock transfer books of the
Company) shall be dated (or registered as of), the next succeeding Business
Day
on which the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) Whenever
the Company shall become obligated under Section 3.1(a) or (c) to issue shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of or in exchange for Rights, the Company,
at its
option, may substitute therefor shares of Preferred Stock, at a ratio of
one
one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock
so
issuable.
(e) In
the
event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company to permit
the
exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(a)
or
if the Company so elects to make the exchange referred to in Section 3.1(c),
the
Company shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure and provide,
as
and when and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and any
agreements or instruments in effect on the Stock Acquisition Date (and remaining
in effect) to which it is a party, that each Right shall thereafter constitute
the right to receive, (x) at the Company’s option, either (A) in return for the
Exercise Price, debt or equity securities or other assets (or a combination
thereof) having a fair value equal to twice the Exercise Price, or (B) without
payment of consideration (except as otherwise required by applicable law),
debt
or equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a
fair
value equal to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of Directors of the
Company elects to exchange the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(c),
debt or
equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair
value
equal to the product of the Market Price of a share of Common Stock on the
Flip-in Date times the Exchange Ratio in effect on the Flip-in Date, where
in
any case set forth in (x) or (y) above the fair value of such debt or equity
securities or other assets shall be as determined in good faith by the Board
of
Directors of the Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized
investment banking firm.
3.2 Flip-over.
(a)
Prior to
the Expiration Time, the Company shall not enter into any agreement with
respect
to, consummate or permit to occur any Flip-over Transaction or Event unless
and
until it shall have entered into a supplemental agreement with the Flip-over
Entity, for the benefit of the holders of the Rights, providing that, upon
consummation or occurrence of the Flip-over Transaction or Event (i) each
Right
shall thereafter constitute the right to purchase from the Flip-over Entity,
upon exercise thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, that number of
shares
of Flip-over Stock of the Flip-over Entity having an aggregate Market Price
on
the date of consummation or occurrence of such Flip-over Transaction or Event
equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal to the Exercise
Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests
of the holders of Rights generally in the event that after such date of
consummation or occurrence any of the events described in Section 2.4(a)
or (b),
or any analogous event, shall have occurred with respect to the Flip-over
Stock)
and (ii) the Flip-over Entity shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume,
by virtue of such Flip-over Transaction or Event and such supplemental
agreement, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement. The provisions of this Section 3.2 shall apply to successive
Flip-over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior
to
the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed pursuant to Section
5.1
pursuant to an agreement entered into by the Company prior to a Flip-in Date,
the Company shall not enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate
or
permit to occur any Flip-over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof
there
are any rights, warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements,
agreements or instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any
material respect the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement
to the holders of Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE
IV
THE
RIGHTS AGENT
4.1 General.
(a)
The
Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company
in
accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby
accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from
time
to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel
fees
and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or
omitted
to be done by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and
administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending
against any claim of liability.
(b) The
Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect
of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any certificate for securities
(or registration on the stock transfer books of the Company) purchasable
upon
exercise of Rights, Rights Certificate, certificate for other securities
of the
Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement,
affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or
other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed
and,
where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or
Persons.
4.2 Merger
or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent.
(a)
Any
Person into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger
or
consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent is
a
party, or any Person succeeding to the shareholder services business of the
Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, will 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
Person
would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the
provisions of Section 4.4. In case at the time such successor Rights Agent
succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights Certificates
have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent
may
adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such
Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the
Rights
Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may
countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor
Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such
cases
such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the Rights
Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In
case
at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such time any
of the
Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the
Rights
Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights
Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Rights
Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign
such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name;
and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided
in
the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties
of Rights Agent.
The
Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement
upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and
the
holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be
bound:
(a) The
Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for
the
Company), and the opinion of such counsel will be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or
omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever
in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent deems
it
necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by
the
Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may
be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed
by a
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman, the President or
any
Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent;
and
such certificate will be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action
taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement
in
reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The
Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, bad faith
or
willful misconduct.
(d) The
Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements
of
fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the certificates, if any,
for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights Certificates
(except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same,
but all
such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been made by
the
Company only.
(e) The
Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity
of
this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due
authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect
of the validity or execution of any certificate, if any, for securities
purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant
to
Section 3.1(b)) or any adjustment required under the provisions of Section
2.4,
3.1 or 3.2 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 after receipt
of
the certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment);
nor
will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty
as
to the authorization or reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights or any Rights or as to whether any securities purchasable upon
exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The
Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or
cause
to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and
other
acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights
Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions
of this Agreement.
(g) The
Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with
respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any person believed
by
the Rights Agent to be the Chairman, the President or any Vice President
or the
Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer
of the Company, and to apply to such persons for advice or instructions in
connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken
or
suffered by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such
person.
(h) The
Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights
Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or other securities of
the
Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the
Company
may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise
act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent under this Agreement.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity
for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) 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 will not be answerable or accountable for
any
act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for
any
loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct,
provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment
thereof.
4.4 Change
of Rights Agent.
The
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement
upon 90 days’ notice (or such lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in
writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of Common Stock
by
registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance
with Section 5.9. The Company may remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days’ notice
in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent and to each transfer agent of the
Common
Stock by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Rights in
accordance with Section 5.9. If the Rights Agent should resign or be removed
or
otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company will appoint a successor
to
the Rights Agent. If the Company fails to make such appointment within a
period
of 30 days after 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 any Rights (which holder shall, with such notice, submit such
holder’s Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the holder of
any Rights may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the
Company or by such a court, shall be a 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 the powers of the
Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement. After appointment, the successor
Rights Agent will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and
responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without
further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer
to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder,
and
execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary
for
the purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the
Company will file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent
and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in
writing to the holders of the Rights. Failure to give any notice provided
for in
this Section 4.4, 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.
ARTICLE
V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Redemption;
Independent Director Review; and Stockholder Referendum.
(a)
The
Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, at any time prior to
the
close of business on the Flip-in Date, elect to redeem all (but not less
than
all) of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price and the Company,
at
its option, may pay the Redemption Price either in cash or shares of Common
Stock or other securities of the Company deemed by the Board of Directors,
in
the exercise of its sole discretion, to be at least equivalent in value to
the
Redemption Price.
(b) A
committee of independent directors of the Company will evaluate the Agreement
annually to determine whether it continues to be in the best interests of
the
Company’s stockholders or, rather, if the Rights should be
redeemed.
(c) In
the
event the Company, not earlier than 90 Business Days nor later than 120 Business
Days following the commencement of a Qualifying Offer within the meaning
of Rule
14(d)-2(a) under the Exchange Act, which has not been terminated prior thereto
and which continues to be a Qualifying Offer,
receives
a written notice complying with the terms of this Section 5.1(c) (the “Special
Meeting Notice”) that is properly executed by the holders of record (or their
duly authorized proxy) of a majority of the shares of Common Stock then
outstanding directing the Board of Directors of the Company to submit to
a vote
of stockholders at a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company (a
“Special Meeting”) a resolution authorizing the redemption of all, but not less
than all, of the then outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price (the
“Redemption Resolution”), then the Board of Directors of the Company shall take
such actions as are necessary or desirable to cause the Redemption Resolution
to
be so submitted to a vote of stockholders, by including a proposal relating
to
adoption of the Redemption Resolution in the proxy materials of the Company
for
the Special Meeting. For purposes of a Special Meeting Notice, the record
date
for determining eligible holders of record shall be the 90th Business Day
following the commencement of a Qualifying Offer. Any Special Meeting Notice
must be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive
offices of the Company and must set forth as to the stockholders of record
executing the request (x) the name and address of such stockholders, as they
appear on the Company’s books and records, (y) the class and number of shares of
Common Stock which are owned of record by each of such stockholders, and
(z) in
the case of Common Stock that is owned beneficially by another Person, an
executed certification by the holder of record that such holder has executed
such Special Meeting Notice only after obtaining instructions to do so from
such
beneficial owner. Subject to the requirements of applicable law, the Board
of
Directors of the Company may take a position in favor of or opposed to the
adoption of the Redemption Resolution, or no position with respect to the
Redemption Resolution, as it determines to be appropriate in the exercise
of its
duties. In the event that no Person has become an Acquiring Person prior
to the
redemption date referred to in this Section 5.1(c), and the Qualifying Offer
continues to be a Qualifying Offer and either (i) the Special Meeting is
not
held on or prior to the 90th Business Day following receipt of the Special
Meeting Notice, or (ii) if, at the Special Meeting, the holders of a majority
of
the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the record date for the Special
Meeting selected by the Board of Directors of the Company shall vote in favor
of
the Redemption Resolution, then all of the Rights shall be deemed redeemed
by
such failure to hold the Special Meeting or as a result of such stockholder
action, as the case may be, at the Redemption Price, or the Board of Directors
shall take such other action as would prevent the existence of the Rights
from
interfering with the consummation of the Qualifying Offer, effective either
(i)
as of the Close of Business on the 90th Business Day following receipt of
the
Special Meeting Notice if a Special Meeting is not held on or prior to such
date
or (ii) as of the date on which the results of the vote on the Redemption
Resolution at the Special Meeting are certified as official by the appointed
inspectors of election for the Special Meeting, as the case may be.
(d) Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to redeem
the
Rights pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or the effectiveness of such redemption
pursuant to Section 5.1(c) (or, if the resolution of the Board of Directors
electing to redeem the Rights pursuant to Section 5.1(a) states that the
redemption will not be effective until the occurrence of a specified future
time
or event, upon the occurrence of such future time or event), without any
further
action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and each Right, whether or not previously exercised, will thereafter represent
only the right to receive the Redemption Price in cash or securities, as
determined by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such resolution
of
the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to Section 5.1(a) may be revoked,
rescinded or otherwise modified at any time prior to the time and date of
effectiveness set forth in such resolution, in which event the right to exercise
will not terminate at the time and date originally set for such termination
by
the Board of Directors of the Company. Promptly after the Rights are redeemed,
the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and
the
holders of the then outstanding Rights by mailing such notice in accordance
with
Section 5.9.
5.2 Expiration.
The
Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the Expiration Time and no Person
shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement or any Right after the
Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or redeemed, as provided
in
Section 3.1 or 5.1, respectively.
5.3 Issuance
of New Rights Certificates.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights
to the
contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates
evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors
to
reflect any adjustment or change in the number or kind or class of shares
of
stock purchasable upon exercise of Rights made in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale of
shares of Common Stock by the Company following the Separation Time and prior
to
the Expiration Time pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or
redeemable into shares of Common Stock (other than any securities issued
or
issuable in connection with the exercise or exchange of Rights) or to options,
in each case issued or granted prior to, and outstanding at, the Separation
Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of such shares of Common Stock,
Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection
with the issuance or sale of such shares of Common Stock; provided, however,
in
each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued, if, and to the
extent
that, the Company shall be advised by counsel that such issuance would create
a
significant risk of material adverse tax consequences to the Company or to
the
Person to whom such Rights Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights
Certificates shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment
shall have otherwise been made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii)
the
Company shall have no obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to any
Acquiring Person or Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any
transferee of any of the foregoing.
5.4 Supplements
and Amendments.
Except
for any extension of the Expiration Date (or any changes in the definition
thereof), which can only be done by action of the Stockholders, the Company
and
the Rights Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement
without the approval of any holders of Rights (i) prior to the Close of Business
on the Flip-in Date, in any respect and (ii) after the Close of Business
on the
Flip-in Date, to make any changes that the Company may deem necessary or
desirable and which shall not materially adversely affect the interests of
the
holders of Rights generally or in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct
or
supplement any provision contained herein which may be inconsistent with
any
other provisions herein or otherwise defective. The Rights Agent will duly
execute and deliver any supplement or amendment hereto requested by the Company
which satisfies the terms of the preceding sentence, provided that any
supplement or amendment shall become effective immediately upon execution
by the
Company, whether or not also executed by the Rights Agent. The Board of
Directors of the Company will materially amend this Agreement only if, in
the
exercise of its fiduciary responsibilities under Delaware law, and acting
by a
majority of its independent directors, it determines that such action is
in the
best interest of the Stockholders. If so adopted, any such material amendment
will be submitted to a non-binding vote of Stockholders as a separate ballot
item at the next annual meeting of Stockholders occurring at least six months
after such adoption.
5.5 Fractional
Shares.
If the
Company elects not to issue certificates representing (or register on the
stock
transfer books of the Company) fractional shares upon exercise, redemption
or
exchange of Rights, the Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion
of the Board of Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by
depositary receipts issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the
Company and a depositary selected by it, providing that each holder of a
depositary receipt shall have all of the rights, privileges and preferences
to
which such holder would be entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional
share, or (b) pay to the registered holder of such Rights the appropriate
fraction of the Market Price per share in cash.
5.6 Rights
of Action.
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement (including Sections 3.1(b) and 5.14), rights
of
action in respect of this Agreement, other than rights of action vested solely
in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective holders of the Rights;
and any
holder of any Rights, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder
of any other Rights, may, on such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own
benefit and the benefit of other holders of Rights, enforce, and may institute
and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce,
or
otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise such holder’s
Rights in the manner provided in such holder’s Rights Certificate and in this
Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the
holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights
would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement
and
will be entitled to specific performance of the obligations under, and
injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of, the obligations
of
any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder
of Rights Not Deemed a Stockholder.
No
holder, as such, of any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends
or
be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which
may
at any time be issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything
contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon
the
holder of any Rights, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company
or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted
to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to
any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 5.8), or to receive dividends
or
subscription rights, or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been exercised
or exchanged in accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 Notice
of Proposed Actions.
In case
the Company shall propose at or after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit a Flip-over Transaction or Event
or (ii)
to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then,
in
each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance
with Section 5.9, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the
date
on which such Flip-over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or
winding up is to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20
Business Days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed
action.
5.9 Notices.
Notices
or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by
the
Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Company shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights
Agent) as follows:
__________________
__________________
__________________
Any
notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by
the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent shall
be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Company)
as follows:
__________________
__________________
__________________
Notices
or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or made by
the
Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall be
sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it appears
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time,
on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice
which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or
not
the holder receives the notice.
5.10 Suspension
of Exercisability.
To the
extent that the Company determines in good faith that some action will or
need
be taken pursuant to Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities
laws, the Company may suspend the exercisability of the Rights for a reasonable
period in order to take such action or comply with such laws. In the event
of
any such suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly as practicable a
public
announcement stating that the exercisability or exchangeability of the Rights
has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof pursuant to Section 5.9 shall
not
be required.
Failure
to give a notice pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall not affect
the validity of any action taken hereunder.
5.11 Costs
of Enforcement.
The
Company agrees that if the Company or any other Person the securities of
which
are purchasable upon exercise of Rights fails to fulfill any of its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement, then the Company or such Person will reimburse
the
holder of any Rights for the costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred
by such holder in actions to enforce such holder’s rights pursuant to any Rights
or this Agreement.
5.12 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.
5.13 Benefits
of this Agreement.
Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Agreement and this Agreement shall be for
the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the holders
of
the Rights.
5.14 Determination
and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc.
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. All such actions, interpretations and determinations (including,
for
purposes of clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing)
done
or made by the Board, shall (x) be final, conclusive and binding on the Company,
the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties, and (y)
not
subject the Board of Directors of the Company to any liability to the holders
of
the Rights.
5.15 Fiduciary
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors.
Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in derogation of the
obligation of the Board of Directors of the Company to exercise its fiduciary
duties. Without limiting the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be
construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors of the Company
shall
not be entitled to reject any offer to acquire the Company, or to recommend
that
Stockholders reject any offer, or to take any other action (including, without
limitation, the commencement, prosecution, defense or settlement of any
litigation), with respect to any offer or any proposal to acquire the Company
that the Board of Directors of the Company believes is necessary or appropriate
in the exercise of such fiduciary duties. Nothing in this Agreement shall
be
construed as limited or prohibiting the Company from proposing or engaging,
at
any time, in any acquisition, disposition or other transfer of any securities
of
the Company, any merger or consolidation involving the Company, any sale
or
other transfer of assets of the Company, any liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Company, or any other business combination or other
transaction, or any other action by the Company.
5.16 Descriptive
Headings; Section References.
Descriptive headings appear herein for convenience only and shall not control
or
affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. Where
a
reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be
to a
Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
5.17 GOVERNING
LAW.
THIS
AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT
MADE
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 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.
5.18 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.
5.19 Severability.
If any
term or provision hereof or the application thereof to any circumstance shall,
in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be invalid or unenforceable, such
term or
provision shall be ineffective as to such jurisdiction to the extent of such
invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating or rendering unenforceable
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the application of such term
or
provision to circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid
or
unenforceable.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
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COMPANY |
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[______________________] |
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Name:
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Title:
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RIGHTS
AGENT
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[______________________] |
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By: |
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Name:
___________________________
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Title:
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EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE
NO. _________
THE
RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION OF
THE
COMPANY OR THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT. RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR
ASSOCIATES THEREOF (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR
TRANSFEREES OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
This
certifies that [______________]
, or
registered assigns, is the registered holder of the number of Rights set
forth
above, each of which entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the
terms, provisions and conditions of the Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement,
dated as of [_____________],
2005
(as amended from time to time, the “Rights Agreement”), between [______________________],
a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [______________________],
a
[____________]
corporation, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”, which term shall include any
successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from the
Company
at any time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in the Rights
Agreement) and prior to the close of business on [_________],
2015,
one one-hundredth of a fully paid share of Participating Preferred Stock,
no par
value (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company (subject to adjustment as provided
in the Rights Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon
presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election
to Exercise duly executed at the principal office of the Rights Agent in
Cranford, New Jersey. The Exercise Price shall initially be $[__]
per
Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain events as provided in
the
Rights Agreement.
In
certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase securities of
an
entity other than the Company or Common Stock or other securities of the
Company
other than Preferred Stock or assets of the Company, all as provided in the
Rights Agreement.
This
Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions
of
the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights
Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies
of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and
are
available without cost upon written request.
This
Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon surrender
at
the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be exchanged
for
another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor evidencing
an
aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights evidenced
by
the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this Rights
Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be entitled
to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject
to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by this
Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances,
at
its option or at the option of the Company’s stockholders, at a redemption price
of $0.001 per Right or (b) exchanged by the Company under certain circumstances,
at its option, for one share of Common Stock or one one-hundredth of a share
of
Preferred Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets
of
the Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as provided
in the Rights Agreement.
No
holder
of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any securities which
may at
any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained
in the
Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof,
as
such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote
for
the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at
any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action,
or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except
as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in the Rights
Agreement.
This
Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
it
shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS
the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate
seal.
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Title:
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FORM
OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE REVERSE SIDE
FORM
OF ASSIGNMENT
(To
be
executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to transfer this
Rights
Certificate.)
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto [______________________]
this
Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint [Attorney]
to
transfer this Rights Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power
of
substitution.
| Dated:
_______________________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| Signature |
|
|
| |
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| Name of
Registered
Holder |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Signature
Guaranteed: |
|
|
| |
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
(Signature
must correspond to name on the Rights Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever).
Signatures
must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers,
savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
l7Ad-15.
CERTIFICATION
OF HOLDER:
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate
are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined
in
the Rights Agreement).
| Dated:
_______________________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| Signature |
|
|
| |
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| Name
of Registered
Holder |
|
|
| |
|
|
NOTICE
In
the
event the certification set forth above is not completed, the Company will
deem
the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate
to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined
in
the Rights Agreement) or a transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly
will deem the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and
not
transferable or exercisable.
FORM
OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
(To
be
executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO:
[______________________]
The
undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise [_____________]
Rights
represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Common
Stock or Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of such
Rights
and requests that certificates for such shares be issued and delivered as
follows:
| NAME:
______________________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ADDRESS:
___________________________________ |
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| _______________________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Social
Security or Other
Taxpayer |
|
|
| Identification
Number: __________________________ |
|
|
If
the
number of Rights exercised is less than the total Rights evidenced by the
Rights
Certificate, the undersigned requests a new Rights Certificate for the
unexercised Rights be registered and delivered as follows:
| NAME:
_____________________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ADDRESS:
__________________________________ |
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Social
Security or Other
Taxpayer |
|
|
| Identification
Number: _________________________ |
|
|
| Dated:
______________________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| Signature |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| Name
of Registered
Holder |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Signature
Guaranteed: |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| Signature |
|
|
(Signature
must correspond to name on the Rights Certificate in every particular, without
alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)
Signatures
must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers,
savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
l7Ad-15.
CERTIFICATION
OF HOLDER:
The
undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by the attached Rights
Certificate are not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never
been,
Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof
(as defined in the Rights Agreement).
| Dated:
______________________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| Signature |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ______________________________________ |
|
|
| Name
of Registered
Holder |
|
|
| |
NOTICE
In
the
event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection with
a
purported exercise, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights
evidenced by the attached Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.