EXECUTION VERSION
TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN
between
ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.
and
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
as Rights Agent
Dated as of May 5, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| Section 1. | Certain Definitions | |
| Section 2. | Appointment of the Rights Agent | |
| Section 3. | Issuance of Rights Certificates | |
| Section 4. | Form of Rights Certificates | |
| Section 5. | Countersignature and Registration | |
| Section 6. | Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates | |
| Section 7. | Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights | |
| Section 8. | Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates | |
| Section 9. | Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights | |
| Section 10. | Record Date | |
| Section 11. | Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities or Number of Rights | |
| Section 12. | Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares | |
| Section 13. | Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares | |
| Section 14. | Rights of Action | |
| Section 15. | Agreement of Rights Holders | |
| Section 16. | Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder | |
| Section 17. | Concerning the Rights Agent | |
| Section 18. | Merger, Consolidation or Change of Name of the Rights Agent | |
| Section 19. | Duties of the Rights Agent | |
| Section 20. | Change of the Rights Agent | |
| Section 21. | Issuance of New Rights Certificates | |
| Section 22. | Redemption | |
| Section 23. | Exchange | |
| Section 24. | Notice of Certain Events | |
| Section 25. | Notices | |
| Section 26. | Supplements and Amendments | |
| Section 27. | Successors | |
| Section 28. | Determinations and Actions by the Board | |
| Section 29. | Benefits of this Agreement | |
| Section 30. | Severability | |
| Section 31. | Governing Law | |
| Section 32. | Counterparts; Facsimiles and PDFs | |
| Section 33. | Descriptive Headings; Calculation of Time Periods | |
| Section 34. | Force Majeure | |
| Section 35. | Further Assurance | |
| Section 36. | Confidentiality | |
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A: | Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock |
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Exhibit B: | Form of Rights Certificate |
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Exhibit C: | Summary of Rights |
TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN
TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN, dated as of May 5, 2017 (the “Agreement”), between Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, on May 5, 2017 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”), the Board of Directors of the Company authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (each, a “Right,” and together with all other such rights distributed or issued pursuant hereto, the “Rights”) for each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) outstanding at the Close of Business (as hereinafter defined) on May 22, 2017 (the “Record Date”), each Right initially representing the right to purchase one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, and further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right (subject to adjustment as provided herein) with respect to each share of Common Stock issued or delivered by the Company after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date (as hereinafter defined) or the Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined) or as provided in Section 21 hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1.Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
(a) “4.99% Stockholder” shall mean a Person (other than the Company, any Related Person or any Exempt Person) who beneficially owns 4.99% or more of the Company’s then-outstanding Common Stock.
(b) “Acquiring Person” shall mean any Person (other than the Company, any Related Person or any Exempt Person) that is or has become a 4.99% Stockholder, provided, however, that any Person who would otherwise qualify as an Acquiring Person upon the execution of this Agreement or any Person who has ceased to be an Exempt Person as of a particular date by determination of the Board will not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” for any purpose of this Agreement on and after such date unless and until such Person acquires Beneficial Ownership of additional shares of Common Stock, and provided, also, that a Person will not be deemed to have become an Acquiring Person solely as a result of (i) a reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, (ii) the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests (including restricted stock) granted by the Company to its directors, officers and employees, in their capacity as such, (iii) any unilateral grant of any security by the Company, or (iv) an Exempt Transaction, in each case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), unless and until such Person acquires Beneficial Ownership of one additional share of Common Stock while the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% of more of the Company’s then-outstanding Common Stock pursuant to a transaction that is not described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv). If the Board determines in its sole discretion that a
Person who would otherwise be an “Acquiring Person” has become such inadvertently (including, without limitation, because (x) such Person was unaware that it Beneficially Owned a percentage of Common Stock that would otherwise cause such Person to be an Acquiring Person or (y) such Person was aware of the extent of its Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock but had no actual knowledge of the consequences of such Beneficial Ownership under this Agreement) and such Person divests as promptly as practicable (as determined by the Board in its sole discretion) a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock so that such Person is no longer the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% or more of the Common Stock then outstanding, then such Person shall not be deemed to be or ever to have been an “Acquiring Person” for any purposes of this Agreement as a result of such inadvertent acquisition.
(c) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and to the extent not included within the foregoing clause of this Section 1(c), shall also include, with respect to any Person, any other Person (whether or not a Related Person or an Exempt Person) whose shares of Common Stock would be deemed constructively owned by such first Person, owned by a single “entity” (as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations) or otherwise aggregated with shares owned by such first Person pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed to be the Affiliate or Associate of another Person solely because either or both Persons are or were directors of the Company.
(d) “Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(e) “Authorized Officer” shall mean the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, President, any Senior or Executive Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer of the Company.
(f) A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, shall be deemed to have “Beneficial Ownership” of and shall be deemed to “beneficially own”:
(i) any securities that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time, compliance with regulatory requirements, the fulfillment of a condition, or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;
(ii) any securities that such Person or any such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (A) directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of, alone or in concert with others, or (B) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (in each case as in effect on the date hereof), including, with respect to both clause (A) and clause (B), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), but only if the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; provided that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security on account of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security that (X) arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, including the disclosure requirements of Schedule 14A thereunder and (Y) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);
(iii) any securities that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person, if such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing) with such other Person or any of such other Person’s Affiliates or Associates for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (other than voting pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to Section 1(f)(ii) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company, but only if the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; and
(iv) on any day on or after the Distribution Date, all Rights that prior to such date were represented by certificates for Common Stock that such Person Beneficially Owns on such day.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1(f), (A) a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the 40th calendar day after the date of such acquisition (or such later date as the Board may determine in any specific case), and then only if such securities continue to be owned by such Person as of such date; (B) a Person shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security on account of such Person’s status as a “clearing agency,” as defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Exchange Act; and (C) any Person, with Affiliate(s), Associate(s) or other Person(s) who may be deemed representatives of it serving as director(s) of the Company, shall not be deemed to Beneficially Own securities (i) held by such other Persons serving as director(s) of the Company to the extent such securities were issued by the Company to such director(s) in the ordinary course of business as compensation for their service as director(s) of the Company or (ii) held by such Person to the extent such securities were issued by the Company to such Person in the ordinary course of business as compensation for such other Persons’ service as director(s) of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1(f) (excluding the immediately prior paragraph), to the extent not within the foregoing provisions of this Section 1(f), a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities that such Person would be deemed to constructively own or which otherwise would be aggregated with
securities owned by such Person pursuant to Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(g) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
(h) “Book Entry Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
(i) “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or in a State where the principal office of the Rights Agent is located are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(j) “Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on such date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.
(k) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(l) “Common Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(m) “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
(n) “Current Per Share Market Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d)(i) or Section 11(d)(ii) hereof, as applicable.
(o) “Current Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(p) “Distribution Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date (or, if such tenth Business Day after the Stock Acquisition Date occurs before the Record Date, the Close of Business on the Record Date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (or, such later date as may be specified by the Board prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by or on behalf of any Person (other than the Company, any Related Person or any Exempt Person), if upon the consummation thereof such Person would become an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that if a tender or exchange offer is terminated prior to the occurrence of a Distribution Date, then no Distribution Date shall occur as a result of such tender or exchange offer.
(q) “Equivalent Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(r) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) “Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof.
(t) “Exempt Person” shall mean any Person deemed to be an “Exempt Person” by the Board in its sole discretion. Any exemption granted by the Board may be granted in whole or in part, prospectively or retroactively, and may be subject to limitations or conditions to the extent the Board shall determine, in its sole discretion, necessary or desirable.
(u) “Exempt Transaction” shall mean any transaction that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, is exempt, which determination shall be irrevocable.
(v) “Expiration Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed as provided in Section 22 hereof, (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged in full as provided in Section 23 hereof, (iv) the effective date of the repeal of both Section 382 and Section 383 of the Code, or any successor provisions or replacement provisions, if the Board determines that this Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits or (v) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company for which the Board determines that the Company has or will have no Tax Benefits.
(w) “Final Expiration Date” shall mean the Close of Business on the earlier of (i) May 4, 2018 or (ii) the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company.
(x) “Ownership Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
(y) “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated association, organization or other legal entity, or any group of persons making a “coordinated acquisition” of shares or otherwise treated as an entity within the meaning of Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, and includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such individual or entity.
(z) “Preferred Stock” shall mean shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(aa) “Purchase Price” shall mean initially $50.00 per one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Agreement.
(bb) “Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
(cc) “Redemption Price” shall mean $0.00001 per Right, subject to adjustment of the Company to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof.
(dd) “Related Person” shall mean (i) any Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) any employee benefit or stock ownership plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan.
(ee) “Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
(ff) “Rights Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement, and any successor Rights Agent pursuant to Section 18 and Section 20 hereof.
(gg) “Rights Certificates” shall mean certificates evidencing the Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(hh) “Rights Dividend Declaration Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
(ii) “Section 11(a)(ii) Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.
(jj) “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(kk) “Securities Act” shall mean Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ll) “Spread” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(mm) “Stock Acquisition Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed or amended pursuant to Section 13(d) or Section 13(g) under the Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.
(nn) “Subsidiary” shall mean, with reference to any Person, any corporation or other legal entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person, or otherwise controlled by such Person.
(oo) “Substitution Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.
(pp) “Summary of Rights” shall mean a copy of a summary of the terms of the Rights, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(qq) “Tax Benefits” shall mean the net operating loss carry-overs, capital loss carry-overs, general business credit carry-overs, alternative minimum tax credit carry-overs and foreign tax credit carry-overs, as well as any “net unrealized built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision, of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof.
(rr) “Trading Day” shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading is open for the
transaction of business or if the shares of Common Stock are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ss) “Treasury Regulations” shall mean final, temporary and proposed income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, including any amendments thereto.
(tt) “Trust” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(d) hereof.
(uu) “Trust Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(d) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of the Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as rights agent for the Company in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof (and no implied terms or conditions), and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-rights agents as it may deem necessary or desirable upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to the Rights Agent; provided, however, that the Rights Agent shall have no duty to supervise, and shall in no event be liable for, the acts or omissions of any such co-rights agents. If the Company appoints one or more co-rights agents, the respective duties of the Rights Agent and any co-rights agents shall be determined by the Company; provided that such duties and determination are consistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that contemporaneously with such appointment, if any, the Company shall notify the Rights Agent in writing thereof.
Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates.
(a) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be evidenced (subject to Section 3(b) and Section 3(c) hereof) by the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock in the names of the record holders thereof (which certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall also be deemed to be certificates for Rights) or in the case of uncertificated shares of Common Stock registered in book entry form (“Book Entry Shares”), by notation in book entry together with current ownership statements issued with respect to such uncertificated shares in lieu of such certificates (“Ownership Statements”) (which Ownership Statements shall be deemed also to be certificates for Rights) and (ii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of Common Stock.
(b) On or as promptly as practicable after the Record Date, the Company shall send, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on the Record Date, a copy of a Summary of Rights. With respect to shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock will be evidenced by the certificate or Ownership Statement for such shares of Common Stock registered in the names of the holders thereof, in each case together with the Summary of Rights. Until the Distribution Date, the surrender for transfer of any certificate or Ownership Statement for shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date, with or without a copy of the Summary of Rights, shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate or Ownership Statement.
(c) Rights shall, without any further action, be issued by the Company in respect of all shares of Common Stock (other than any shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise or exchange of any Right) issued or delivered by the Company after the Record Date but prior to the earlier of the Distribution Date or the Expiration Date, and, to the extent provided in Section 21 hereof, after the Distribution Date. Certificates and Ownership Statements representing such shares of Common Stock shall have stamped on, impressed on, printed on, written on, or otherwise affixed to them a legend in substantially the following form or such similar legend as the Company may deem appropriate and is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and as do not affect the rights, duties or responsibilities of the Rights Agent, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction reporting system on which the shares of Common Stock may from time to time be listed or quoted:
This [certificate/statement] also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in the Tax Asset Protection Plan between Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (or the successor Rights Agent thereunder) dated as of May 5, 2017 and as amended from time to time (the “Plan”), the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. The Rights are not exercisable prior to the occurrence of certain events specified in the Plan. Under certain circumstances, as set forth in the Plan, such Rights may be redeemed, may be exchanged, may expire, may be amended, or may be evidenced by separate certificates and no longer be evidenced by this [certificate/statement]. Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. shall mail to the holder of this [certificate/statement] a copy of the Plan, as in effect on the date of mailing, without charge promptly after receipt of a written request therefor. Under certain circumstances as set forth in the Plan, Rights that are or were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined in the Plan) may become null and void.
With respect to such certificates or Ownership Statements containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificates or Ownership Statements shall be represented by such certificates or Ownership Statements alone and the surrender for transfer of any certificate or Ownership Statement for shares of Common Stock shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate or Ownership Statement.
(d) As promptly as practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company shall prepare and execute, the Rights Agent shall countersign (either by manual or facsimile signature) and the Company shall send or cause to be sent (and the Rights Agent will, if requested, and if provided with all necessary information and documents, at the expense of the Company, send), in accordance with Section 25 hereof, to each record holder of shares of Common Stock, as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date (other than an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person), a Rights Certificate representing one Right for each share of Common Stock so held, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the event that an adjustment in the number of Rights per share of Common Stock has been made pursuant to Section 11(i) or Section 11(p) hereof, at the time of distribution of the Rights Certificates, the Company shall not be required to issue Rights Certificates evidencing fractional Rights but may, in lieu thereof, make
the necessary and appropriate rounding adjustments (in accordance with Section 13(a) hereof) so that Rights Certificates evidencing only whole numbers of Rights are distributed and cash is paid in lieu of any fractional Rights. As of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented solely by such Rights Certificates. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing upon the occurrence of the Distribution Date and, if such notification is given orally, the Company shall confirm same in writing on or prior to the next Business Day. Until such written notice is received by the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent may presume conclusively for all purposes that the Distribution Date has not occurred.
(e) In the event that the Company purchases or otherwise acquires any shares of Common Stock after the Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock so purchased or acquired.
Section 4. Form of Rights Certificates. The Rights Certificates (and the form of election to purchase and the form of assignment and the certificates contained therein to be printed on the reverse thereof) shall each be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B with such changes and marks of identification or designation, and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate (but which do not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or responsibilities of the Rights Agent) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or transaction reporting system on which the Rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, the Rights Certificates, whenever distributed shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase such number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as is set forth therein at the Purchase Price; provided, however, that the Purchase Price, the number and kind of securities issuable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding shall be subject to adjustment as provided in this Agreement.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Authorized Officer, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof, which shall be attested by any other Authorized Officer, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Rights Certificates shall be countersigned by the Rights Agent, either manually or by facsimile signature, and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Rights Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Rights Certificates may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Rights Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the
execution of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer. In case any authorized signatory of the Rights Agent who has countersigned any of the Rights Certificates ceases to be an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent before issuance and delivery by the Company, such Rights Certificates, nevertheless, may be issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who countersigned such Rights Certificates had not ceased to be an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent; and any Rights Certificates may be countersigned on behalf of the Rights Agent by any person who, at the actual date of the countersignature of such Rights Certificate, is properly authorized to countersign such Rights Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Agreement any such person was not so authorized.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, and upon receipt by the Rights Agent of notice to that effect and all other relevant information and documents referred to in Section 3(a), the Rights Agent will keep or cause to be kept, at its office or offices designated for such purposes and at such other offices as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange or any transaction reporting system on which the rights may from time to time be listed or quoted, books for registration and transfer of the Rights Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of the Rights Certificates, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split-Up, Combination and Exchange of Rights Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 13 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and prior to the Expiration Date, any Rights Certificate(s) (other than Rights Certificates representing Rights that have been redeemed or exchanged pursuant to Section 22 or Section 23 hereof) representing exercisable Rights may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for another Rights Certificate(s), entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate(s) surrendered then entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split-up, combine or exchange any such Rights Certificate(s) must make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and must surrender the Rights Certificate(s) to be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged, with any required forms of assignment and certificate contained therein properly completed and duly executed, at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose with all signatures duly guaranteed. The Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such surrendered Rights Certificate until the registered holder shall have (i) properly completed and duly signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side of such Rights Certificate, (ii) provided such additional evidence, as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request, of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner and the Affiliates and Associates of such Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner)) as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request, and (iii) paid a sum sufficient to cover any tax or charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split-up,
combination or exchange or Rights Certificates as required by Section 9(d) hereof. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 11(a)(ii), Section 13 and Section 23 hereof, countersign (by manual or facsimile signature) and deliver to the Person entitled thereto a Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested registered in such name or names as may be designated by the surrendering registered holder. The Rights Agent shall promptly forward any such sum collected by it to the Company or to such Person or Persons as the Company shall specify by written notice. The Rights Agent shall have no duty or obligation unless and until it is satisfied that all such taxes and/or charges have been paid.
(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them, along with a signature guarantee and such other and further documentation as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request, and reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of the Rights Certificate, if mutilated, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent will countersign and deliver such new Rights Certificate to the registered holder in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights.
(a) Subject to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, at any time after the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the registered holder of any Rights Certificate may exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided herein, including, without limitation, the restrictions on exercisability as set forth in Section 9(e), Section 11(a)(iii), Section 22(a) and Section 23(a) hereof) in whole or in part upon surrender of the Rights Certificate, with the form of election to purchase and the certificate contained therein on the reverse side thereof properly completed and duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the office or agency of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, together with payment of the Purchase Price (including any applicable tax and/or charge required to be paid by the holder of such Rights Certificate in accordance with the provisions of Section 9(d) hereof) for each one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) as to which the Rights are exercised.
(b) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate representing exercisable Rights with the form of election to purchase and the certificate contained therein properly completed and duly executed, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for each one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, cash or other assets, as the case may be) to be purchased and an amount equal to any applicable tax and/or charge required to be paid under Section 9(d) hereof by certified check, cashier’s check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall, subject to Section 19(j) hereof, thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any transfer agent of the shares of Preferred Stock (or make available, if the Rights Agent is the transfer agent for such shares) certificates representing the total number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock to be purchased (and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs its transfer agent to comply with all such requests) or (B) if the
Company shall have elected to deposit any shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights hereunder with a depositary agent, requisition from the depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock as are to be purchased (and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs such depositary agent to comply with all such requests), (ii) after receipt of such certificates (or depositary receipts, as the case may be) cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, (iii) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, requisition from the Company or any transfer agent therefor of certificates representing the number of equivalent shares to be issued in lieu of the issuance of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, (iv) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, after receipt of such certificates, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder, (v) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, requisition from the Company of the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 hereof, and (vi) when necessary to comply with this Agreement, after receipt, deliver such cash to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate.
(c) In case the registered holder of any Rights Certificate shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, the Rights Agent shall prepare, execute and deliver a new Rights Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the exercisable Rights remaining unexercised to the registered holder of such Rights Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be obligated to undertake any action with respect to any purported transfer, split-up, combination or exchange of any Rights Certificate pursuant to Section 6 hereof or exercise or assignment of a Rights Certificate as set forth in this Section 7 unless the registered holder of such Rights Certificate shall have (i) properly completed and duly signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase, as applicable, set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificate surrendered for such transfer, split-up, combination, exchange, exercise or assignment and (ii) provided such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner (or former Beneficial Owner) thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby and Affiliates and Associates thereof as the Company or the Rights Agent may reasonably request.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Rights Certificates. All Rights Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split-up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in cancelled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be cancelled by it, and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Rights Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, or shall, at the written request of the Company,
destroy such cancelled Rights Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Company Covenants Concerning Securities and Rights.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it shall cause to be reserved, authorized for issuance and kept available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Preferred Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 7 hereof.
(b) The Company covenants and agrees so long as the shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, shares of Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be) issuable upon the exercise of the Rights may be listed on any national securities exchange, or quoted on a quotation system, it shall endeavor to cause, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, all securities reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Rights to be listed on such exchange, or quoted on such quotation system, upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.
(c) The Company covenants and agrees it will take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all shares of Preferred Stock (and, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, shares of Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be) delivered upon exercise of Rights, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such securities, shall be (subject to payment of the Purchase Price) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable securities.
(d) The Company covenants and agrees it will pay when due and payable any and all taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Rights Certificates and of any certificates representing securities issued upon the exercise of Rights; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts representing securities issued upon the exercise of Rights in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Rights Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise, or to issue or deliver any certificates or depositary receipts representing securities issued upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax or charge has been paid (any such tax or charge being payable by the holder of such Rights Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s and the Rights Agent’s reasonable satisfaction that no such tax or charge is due.
(e) If the Company determines that registration under the Securities Act is required, then the Company shall use its best efforts (i) to file, as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, on an appropriate form, a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights, (ii) to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and (iii) to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the earlier of (A) the date as of which the Rights are no longer exercisable for such securities or (B) the Expiration Date. The Company shall also take such
action as may be appropriate under, or to ensure compliance with, the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states in connection with the exercisability of the Rights. The Company may temporarily suspend, for a period of time not to exceed 90 calendar days after the date the Company determines that registration is required, the exercisability of the Rights in order to prepare and file such registration statement and to permit it to become effective or to qualify the rights, the exercise thereof or the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock, or other securities upon the exercise thereof under state securities or “blue sky” laws. Upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended, as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. The Company shall promptly notify the Rights Agent in writing whenever it makes a public announcement pursuant to this Section 9(e) and give the Rights Agent a copy of such announcement. In addition, if the Company determines that a registration statement or other document should be filed under the Securities Act or any state securities laws following the Distribution Date, the Company may temporarily suspend the exercisability of the Rights, for a period of time not to exceed 90 calendar days after the date the Company makes such determination, in each relevant jurisdiction, until such time as a registration statement has been declared effective or any such other document filed and, if required, approved, and, upon any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent), as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Rights shall not be exercisable in any jurisdiction if the requisite registration or qualification in such jurisdiction has not been effected or the exercise of the Rights is not permitted under applicable law.
(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after the later of the Stock Acquisition Date and the Distribution Date, the Company shall not, except as permitted by Section 22 or Section 26 hereof, take (or permit any Subsidiary to take) any action if at the time such action is taken it is reasonably foreseeable that such action shall eliminate or otherwise diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
(g) In the event that the Company is obligated to issue other securities of the Company, pay cash or distribute other assets pursuant to Section 7, Section 11, Section 13, Section 22 or Section 23 hereof, it shall make all arrangements necessary so that such other securities, cash or other assets are available for distribution by the Rights Agent, if and when necessary to comply with this Agreement.
Section 10. Record Date. Each Person in whose name any certificate for a number of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be) is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be) represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Rights Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Purchase Price (and all applicable taxes and/or charges) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the transfer books of the Company for shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock or other securities, as the case may be) are closed, such Person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such securities on, and such certificate shall
be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Rights Certificate shall not be entitled to any rights of a holder of any security of the Company with respect to shares for which the Rights are or may be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights, and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number and Kind of Securities or Number of Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of each Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the date of this Agreement (A) declare or pay a dividend on the shares of Preferred Stock payable in shares of Preferred Stock, (B) subdivide or split the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, (C) combine or consolidate the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of Preferred Stock or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the shares of Preferred Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the effective date of such subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification, as the case may be, and the number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such time shall be entitled to receive, upon payment of the Purchase Price then in effect, the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date (whether or not such Right was then exercisable) and at a time when the transfer books of the Company for the shares of Preferred Stock (or other capital stock, as the case may be) were open, the holder would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, split combination, consolidation or reclassification; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of one Right.
(ii) Subject to Section 22 and Section 23 of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a)(ii) and Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, in the event that any Person becomes an Acquiring Person (a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then-current Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and in lieu of shares of Preferred Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal the result obtained by (x) multiplying the then-current Purchase Price by the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and dividing that product (which, following such first occurrence, shall thereafter be referred to as the “Purchase Price” for each Right and for all purposes of this Agreement) by (y) 50% of the Current Per Share Market Price of the Company’s Common Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on the date of such first occurrence; provided,
however, that the Purchase Price (as so adjusted) and the number of shares of Common Stock so receivable upon exercise of a Right shall thereafter be subject to further adjustment as appropriate in accordance with Section 11(f) hereof.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, however, from and after the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (A) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (B) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the occurrence of such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or (C) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Person becoming an Acquiring Person pursuant to either (1) a transfer from the Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) to holders of its equity securities or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or otherwise, regarding the transferred Rights or (2) a transfer that the Board has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding, written or otherwise, which has the purpose or effect of avoiding the provisions of this paragraph, shall be null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the provisions of this Section 11(a)(ii) are complied with, but shall have no liability to any holder of Rights Certificates or other Person as a result of its failure to make any determinations with respect to an Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees hereunder. From and after the occurrence of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, no Rights Certificates shall be issued pursuant to Section 3 or Section 6 hereof that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and any Rights Certificates delivered to the Rights Agent that represent Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall be cancelled.
(iii) The Company may at its option substitute for a share of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Rights in accordance with the foregoing Section 11(a)(ii) such number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock having an aggregate current market value equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of a share of Common Stock. In the event that there shall be an insufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized but unissued (and unreserved) to permit the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing Section 11(a)(ii), the Board shall, with respect to such deficiency, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party (A) determine the excess of (1) the value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right in accordance with the foregoing Section 11(a)(ii) (the “Current Value”) over (2) the then-current Purchase Price (such excess, the “Spread”), and (B) with respect to each Right (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)), make adequate provision to substitute for the shares of Common Stock issuable in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) upon exercise of the Right and payment of the applicable Purchase Price, (1) cash, (2) a reduction in the Purchase Price, (3) shares of Preferred Stock or other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares or fractions of shares of preferred stock which, by virtue of having dividend, voting and liquidation rights substantially comparable to those of the shares of Common Stock, are deemed in good faith by the Board to have substantially the same value as the shares of Common
Stock), (4) debt securities of the Company, (5) other assets, or (6) any combination of the foregoing, having a value which, when added to the value of the shares of Common Stock actually issued upon exercise of such Right, shall have an aggregate value equal to the Current Value, where such aggregate value has been determined by the Board (upon the advice of a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Board in good faith); provided, however, if the Company shall not make adequate provision to deliver value pursuant to clause (B) above within 30 calendar days following the later of (x) the first occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event and (y) the date on which the Company’s right of redemption pursuant to Section 22(a) expires (the later of (x) and (y) being referred to herein as the “Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date”), then the Company shall be obligated to deliver, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or any material agreements then in effect to which the Company is a party, upon the surrender for exercise of a Right and without requiring payment of the Purchase Price, shares of Common Stock (to the extent available), and then, if necessary, such number or fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (to the extent available) and then, if necessary, cash, which shares and cash have an aggregate value equal to the Spread. If within the 30-day period referred to above the Board shall determine in good faith that it is likely that sufficient additional shares of Common Stock could be authorized for issuance upon exercise in full of the Rights, then, if the Board so elects, such 30-day period may be extended to the extent necessary, but not more than 90 calendar days after the Section 11(a)(ii) Trigger Date, in order that the Company may seek stockholder approval for the authorization of such additional shares (such 30-day period, as it may be extended, is hereinafter called the “Substitution Period”). To the extent that the Company determines that some action need be taken pursuant to the second or third sentence of this Section 11(a)(iii), the Company (I) shall provide, subject to Section 11(a)(ii), that such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights and (II) may suspend the exercisability of the Rights until the expiration of the Substitution Period in order to seek any authorization of additional shares or to decide the appropriate form of distribution to be made pursuant to such second sentence and to determine the value thereof. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue a public announcement stating that the exercisability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent), as well as a public announcement at such time as the suspension is no longer in effect (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent).
(b) If the Company fixes a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Preferred Stock (or securities having equivalent rights, privileges and preferences as the shares of Preferred Stock (for purposes of this Section 11(b), “Equivalent Preferred Stock”)) or securities convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock at a price per share of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into shares of Preferred Stock or Equivalent Preferred Stock) less than the Current Per Share Market Price of the shares of Preferred Stock (determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date, the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares of Preferred Stock which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Stock so to be offered (or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would purchase at such Current Per Share
Market Price and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Preferred Stock and Equivalent Preferred Stock to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be offered are initially convertible); provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right be less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of one Right. In case such subscription price may be paid in a consideration part or all of which is in a form other than cash, the value of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent. Shares of Preferred Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(c) If the Company fixes a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of shares of Preferred Stock (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness, cash (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), assets, stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Preferred Stock) or subscription rights, options or warrants (excluding those referred to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Current Per Share Market Price of the shares of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d) hereof) on such record date or, if earlier, the date on which shares of Preferred Stock begin to trade on an ex-dividend or when issued basis for such distribution, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a written statement filed with the Rights Agent) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness, cash, assets or stock so to be distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants applicable to one share of Preferred Stock, and the denominator of which is such Current Per Share Market Price of the shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that in no event shall the consideration to be paid upon the exercise of one Right but less than the aggregate par value of the shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise of one Right. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed; and in the event that such distribution is not so made, the Purchase Price shall again be adjusted to be the Purchase Price which would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.
(d) (i) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, other than computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of a share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of a share of Common Stock for the 30 consecutive Trading Days immediately prior to, but not including, such date, and for purposes of computations made pursuant to Section 11(a)(iii) hereof, the “Current Market Price” per share of Common Stock on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices per share of Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Days immediately following such date; provided, however, that in the event that the Current Per Share Market Price of Common Stock is determined during a period following the announcement by the Company of (A) a dividend or distribution on such shares of Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into such shares (other than the Rights) or (B) any subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification of such shares of Common Stock, and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after, but not including, the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision, split, combination, consolidation or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the Current Per Share Market Price shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account ex-dividend trading or to reflect the current per share market price per share equivalent of such shares of Common Stock. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Global Market or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported on a quotation system then in use, or, if on any such date the Common Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Board. If the Common Stock is not publicly held or not so listed or traded, or is not the subject of available bid and asked quotes, the Current Per Share Market Price of such Common Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder, the “Current Per Share Market Price” of a share of Preferred Stock shall be determined in accordance with the method set forth above in Section 11(d)(i) other than the last sentence thereof. If the Current Per Share Market Price of Preferred Stock cannot be determined in the manner provided above, it shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to the current per share market price of the shares of Common Stock multiplied by ten thousand (as such number may be appropriately adjusted to reflect events such as stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions relating to the shares of Common Stock occurring after the date of this Agreement). If neither the Common Stock nor the Preferred Stock are publicly held or so listed or traded, or the subject of available bid and asked quotes, “Current Per Share Market Price” of the Preferred Stock shall mean the fair value per share as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent. For all purposes of this Agreement, the current per share market price of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock will be equal to the current per share market price of one share of Preferred Stock divided by ten thousand.
(e) Except as set forth below, no adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in such Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock or one ten-thousandth of a share of Common Stock or other security, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this
Section 11(e), any adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such adjustment or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(f) If as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised becomes entitled to receive any securities of the Company other than shares of Preferred Stock, thereafter the number or kind of such other securities so receivable upon exercise of any Right (or the Purchase Price in respect thereof) shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Purchase Price in respect thereof) contained in this Section 11, and the provisions of Section 7, Section 9, Section 10 and Section 13 hereof with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock (and the Purchase Price in respect thereof) shall apply on like terms to any such other securities (and the Purchase Price in respect thereof).
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company has exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) hereof, upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 11(b) or Section 11(c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (calculated to the nearest one one-millionth of a share of Preferred Stock) obtained by (i) multiplying (x) the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of a Right immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment of the Purchase Price and (ii) dividing the product so obtained by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase Price.
(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the Purchase Price, to adjust the number of Rights in substitution for any adjustment in the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock issuable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one hundred-thousandth) obtained by dividing the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to adjustment of the Purchase Price by the Purchase Price in effect immediately after adjustment of the Purchase Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. The Company shall also, as promptly as practicable, notify the Rights Agent in writing of same pursuant to Section 9(e) hereof and give the Rights Agent a copy of such announcement. Such record date may be the date on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but if the Rights Certificates have been issued, such record date shall be at least 10 calendar days later than the date of the public announcement. If Rights Certificates have been
issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Rights Certificates on such record date Rights Certificates evidencing, subject to the provision of Section 13 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders are entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Rights Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Rights Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders are entitled after such adjustment. Rights Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued, executed, and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Purchase Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Rights Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.
(j) Without respect to any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price or the number or kind of securities issuable upon the exercise of the Rights, the Rights Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number and kind of securities which were expressed in the initial Rights Certificate issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Purchase Price below one ten-thousandth of the then par value, if any, of the shares of Preferred Stock or below the then par value, if any, of any other securities of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock or such other securities, as the case may be, at such adjusted Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 otherwise requires that an adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent) until the occurrence of such event the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company delivers to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares of Preferred Stock or other securities upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that in its good faith judgment the Board determines to be necessary or advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the shares of Preferred Stock, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock at less than the Current Per Share Market Price therefor, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of shares of Preferred Stock or securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Preferred Stock, (iv) stock dividends or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in this
Section 11, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its shares of Preferred Stock is not taxable to such stockholders.
(n) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company at any time after the Record Date and prior to the Distribution Date (i) pays a dividend on the outstanding shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (iii) combines the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issues any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock then outstanding, or issued or delivered thereafter but prior to the Distribution Date (or issued or delivered on or after the Distribution Date pursuant to Section 21 hereof), shall be proportionately adjusted so that the number of Rights thereafter associated with each share of Common Stock following any such event equals the result obtained by multiplying the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock immediately prior to such event by a fraction the numerator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the occurrence of the event and the denominator of which is the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the occurrence of such event. The adjustments provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a dividend is paid or such a subdivision, combination or reclassification is effected.
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares. Whenever an adjustment is made or any event affecting the Rights or their exercisability (including, without limitation, an event which causes Rights to become null and void) occurs as provided in Section 11 thereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief, reasonably detailed statement of the facts and calculations accounting for such adjustment or describing such event, (b) file with the Rights Agent, and with each transfer agent for the shares of Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock, a copy of such certificate, and (c) if a Distribution Date has occurred, give a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Rights Certificate in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment or statement therein contained and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.
Section 13. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights, except prior to the Distribution Date as provided in Section 11(n) hereof, or to distribute Rights Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In lieu of such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one Right. For purposes of this Section 13(a), the current market value of one Right is the closing price of the Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any Trading Day shall be the
last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Global Market or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported on a quotation system then in use or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Rights, such market maker to be selected by the Board. If the Rights are not publicly held or are not so listed or traded, or are not the subject of available bid and asked quotes, the current market value of one Right shall mean the fair value thereof as determined in good faith by the Board, whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock) upon exercise of the Rights or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock). Fractions of Preferred Stock in integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of such Preferred Stock may, in the sole discretion of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement provides that the holders of such depositary receipts have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Stock represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional shares of Preferred Stock that are not integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, the Company may pay to the registered holders of Rights Certificates at the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock. For purposes of this Section 13(b), the current market value of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock shall be one ten-thousandth of the closing price of a share of Preferred Stock (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(ii) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise; provided, however, that if the closing price of the shares of the Preferred Stock cannot be so determined, the closing price of the shares of the Preferred Stock for such Trading Day shall be conclusively deemed to be an amount equal to the closing price of the shares of Common Stock for such Trading Day multiplied by ten thousand (as such number may be appropriately adjusted to reflect events such as stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or similar transactions relating to the Common Stock shares occurring after the date of this Agreement).
(c) Following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Company shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Common Stock upon exercise or exchange of the Rights or to distribute certificates or Ownership Statements which evidence fractional shares of Common Stock. In lieu of issuing any such fractional shares of Common Stock, the Company may pay to any Person to whom or which such fractional shares of Common Stock would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of
one such share of Common Stock. For purposes of this Section 13(c), the current market value of one share of Common Stock shall be the closing price thereof (as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i) hereof) on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise or exchange.
(d) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Rights expressly waives such holder’s right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional shares upon exercise of a Right, except as permitted by this Section 13.
(e) Whenever a payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock is to be made by the Rights Agent, the Company shall (i) promptly prepare and deliver to the Rights Agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the facts related to such payments and the prices and/or formulas utilized in calculating such payments, and (ii) provide sufficient monies to the Rights Agent in the form of fully collected funds to make such payments. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon such a certificate and shall have no duty with respect to, and shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any payment for fractional Rights or fractional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock under any Section of this Agreement relating to the payment of fractional Rights or fractional shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock unless and until the Rights Agent shall have received such a certificate and sufficient monies.
Section 14. Rights of Action.
(a) All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, excepting the rights of action given to the Rights Agent hereunder, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Rights Certificates (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of shares of Common Stock); and any registered holder of any Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the shares of Common Stock), without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, of the shares of Common Stock), may, on such first holder’s behalf and for such first holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such first holder’s right to exercise the Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate in the manner provided in such Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement by the Company and shall be entitled to specific performance of the obligations hereunder and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations of the obligations hereunder of the Company.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall have any liability to any holder of a Right or other Person as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, judgment, decree or ruling (whether interlocutory or final) issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any statute, rule, regulation, or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such obligation; provided, however, that the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to have any such injunction, order, judgment, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
Section 15. Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with every other holder of a Right that:
(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of shares of Common Stock;
(b) as of and after the Distribution Date, the Rights Certificates are transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purposes, duly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer with the appropriate forms and certificates contained therein fully executed and such additional evidence of the identity of the Beneficial Owner and/or former Beneficial Owner as the Company or the Rights Agent shall reasonably request;
(c) subject to Section 6(a) and Section 7(d) hereof, the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date, the associated Common Stock share certificate or Ownership Statement) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Rights Certificates or the associated Common Stock share certificate or Ownership Statement made by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent, subject to the penultimate sentence of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, shall be affected by any notice to the contrary; and
(d) such holder expressly waives any right to receive any fractional Rights and any fractional securities upon exercise or exchange of a Right, except as otherwise provided in Section 13 hereof.
Section 16. Rights Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No holder of any Rights Certificate, by means of such possession, shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the number of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock or any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights Certificate, by means of such possession, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company including any right to vote on any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, including the election of directors, 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 24 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by such Rights Certificate have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 17. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in accordance with the fee schedule to be mutually agreed upon, and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, delivery, amendment, 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, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement and the performance of its duties and responsibilities and the exercise of its rights hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly. The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification will also be paid by the Company. The provisions of this Section 17 and Section 19 below shall survive the exercise, exchange, redemption or expiration of the Rights, the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent and the termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely on, and will be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in connection with, its acceptance or administration of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties and responsibilities and the exercise of its rights hereunder, in reliance upon any Rights Certificate or certificate evidencing shares of Preferred Stock, Common Stock or other securities of the Company or an Ownership Statement, or any instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 19 hereof.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Rights Agent be liable for special, punitive, incidental, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. Any liability of the Rights Agent under this Agreement will be limited to the amount of annual fees (not including reimbursements for expenses) paid by the Company to the Rights Agent during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from the Rights Agent is being sought.
Section 18. Merger, Consolidation or Change of Name of the 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 20 hereof. If at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of a predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the predecessor or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent changes and at such time any of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
Section 19. Duties of the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes to perform the duties and obligations expressly imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties) 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/or an employee of the Rights Agent), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the content of such advice or opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter (including, without limitation, the identity of any Acquiring Person and the determination of the Current Per Share Market Price) be proved or established by the Company prior to taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any Authorized Officer and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate, pursuant to its terms, shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent, and the Rights Agent shall incur no liability for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the Rights Certificates, including in the case of Book Entry Shares, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership (except its countersignature thereof) and it shall not be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will have no liability in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Rights Certificate, including in the case of Book Entry Shares, by notation in book entry accounts reflecting ownership (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or failure by the Company to satisfy any condition contained in this Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any adjustment or calculation required under the provisions of Section 11, Section 13, Section 22 or Section 23 hereof 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 or calculation (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Rights Certificates after receipt of a certificate furnished pursuant to Section 12 hereof, describing any such change or adjustment, upon which the Rights Agent may rely without further investigation or inquiry); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate or as to whether any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock shall, when so issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it shall 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 its duties under this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties and the exercise of the rights hereunder from any Authorized Officer, and to apply to any such Authorized Officer for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and such instructions shall be full authorization and protection to the Rights Agent and the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with such instructions. The Rights Agent shall be fully authorized and protected in relying upon the most recent instructions received from any such Authorized Officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action shall be taken, suffered or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five Business Days after the date any Authorized Officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such Authorized Officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking or suffering any such action (or the effective date in the case of an
omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken, suffered or omitted to be taken.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer, agent or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent or any stockholder, affiliate, director, officer, agent or employee from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other Person.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, omission, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company or any other Person resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct absent gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (each as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) in the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate contained in the form of assignment or the form of election to purchase set forth on the reverse thereof, as the case may be, has not been completed or indicates an affirmative response to clause 1 or 2 thereof, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company; provided, however, that the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays arising from the duties under this Section 19(j).
(k) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(l) The Rights Agent will not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as an Acquiring Person, Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent is specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or determination, and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability for failing to take any action in connection therewith unless and until it has received such written notice.
(m) The Rights Agent shall have no responsibility to the Company, any holders of Rights or any holders of shares of Common Stock for interest or earnings on any moneys held by the Rights Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(n) The Rights Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to any registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or this Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.
(o) The Rights Agent may rely on and be fully authorized and protected in acting or failing to act upon (a) any guaranty of signature by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a member or participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or other comparable “signature guarantee program” or insurance program in addition to, or in substitution for, the foregoing; or (b) any law, act, regulation or any interpretation of the same even though such law, act, or regulation may thereafter have been altered, changed, amended or repealed.
(p) The Rights Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility in the case of the receipt of any written demand from any holder of a Rights Certificate or any other Person with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon the Company.
(q) The provisions of this Section 19 shall survive the exercise, exchange, redemption or expiration of the Rights, the resignation, replacement or removal of the Rights Agent and the termination of this Agreement.
Section 20. Change of the Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30 calendar days’ written notice given to the Company, and to each transfer agent (other than, if serving as a transfer agent, the Rights Agent) of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock known to the Rights Agent, respectively, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, and if such resignation occurs after the Distribution Date, to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates in accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30 calendar days’ written notice, given to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, and to each transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, by registered or certified mail, and, if such removal occurs after the Distribution Date, to the holders of the Rights Certificates in accordance with Section 25 hereof. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Rights Agent terminates, the Rights Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice hereunder. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 calendar days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Rights Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder’s Rights Certificate for inspection by the Company), then any registered holder of any Rights Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a legal business entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise shareholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent, together
with its Affiliates, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an Affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose; provided, that, the predecessor Rights Agent shall not be required to make any additional expenditure or assume any additional liability in connection with the foregoing. Except as the context herein otherwise requires, such successor Rights Agent shall be deemed to be the “Rights Agent” for all purposes of this Agreement. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the shares of Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, and, if such appointment occurs after the Distribution Date, give a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Rights Certificates in accordance with Section 25 hereof. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 20, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.
Section 21. Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as may be approved by the Board to reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable under the Rights Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition, in connection with the issuance or sale by the Company of shares of Common Stock following the Distribution Date and prior to the Expiration Date, the Company (a) shall, with respect to shares of Common Stock so issued or sold pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities hereinafter issued by the Company and (b) may, in any other case, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board, issue Rights Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale; provided, however, that (i) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, in its good faith judgment the Board determines that the issuance of such Rights Certificate could have a material adverse tax consequence to the Company or to the Person to whom or which such Rights Certificate otherwise would be issued, and (ii) no such Rights Certificate shall be issued if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall otherwise have been made in lieu of the issuance thereof.
Section 22. Redemption.
(a) The Board may, at any time prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event redeem all but not less than all of the then-outstanding Rights at the Redemption Price. The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, securities or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board ordering the redemption of the Rights, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price for each Right so held without interest thereon. Promptly after the effectiveness of the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights in accordance with Section 25 hereof; provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice will not affect the validity of the redemption of the Rights. Any notice given in accordance with Section 25 hereof shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price shall be made.
Section 23. Exchange.
(a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, direct the Company to, and if directed the Company shall, exchange all or part of the then-outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (such amount per Right being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be empowered to direct the Company to effect such exchange at any time an Acquiring Person is the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.
(b) Immediately upon the effectiveness of the action of the Board directing the Company to exchange any Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall be to receive that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly give public notice of any such exchange (with prompt written notice thereof to the Rights Agent); provided, however, that the failure to give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such exchange. The Company shall promptly give a notice of any such exchange to all of the holders of the Rights so exchanged in accordance with Section 25 hereof. Any notice given in accordance with Section 25 hereof shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the shares of Common Stock, for Rights shall be effected and, in the event of any partial exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights which have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) held by each holder of Rights.
(c) The Company may at its option substitute and, in the event that there shall not be sufficient shares of Common Stock issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued (and unreserved) to permit an exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 23, the Company shall substitute to the extent of such insufficiency, for each share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange of a Right, a number of shares of
Preferred Stock or fraction thereof (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) such that the Current Per Share Market Price of one share of Preferred Stock (or Equivalent Preferred Stock) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the Current Per Share Market Price of the Common Stock that would otherwise be issuable as of the date of such exchange.
(d) Prior to effecting an exchange pursuant to this Section 23, the Board may direct the Company to enter into a trust agreement in such form and with such terms as the Board shall then approve (the “Trust Agreement”). If the Board so directs, the Company shall enter into the Trust Agreement and shall issue to the trust created by such agreement (the “Trust”) all of the shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities, if any, issuable pursuant to the exchange, and all Persons entitled to receive such shares or other securities (and any dividends or distributions made thereon after the date on which such shares or other securities are deposited in the Trust) shall be entitled to receive such only from the Trust and solely upon compliance with the relevant terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement.
Section 24. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) If the Company, at any time after the Distribution Date, proposes to (i) pay any dividend payable in stock of any class to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or to make any other distribution to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock (other than a regular periodic cash dividend), (ii) offer to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock rights, options, warrants or any similar instrument to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares of Preferred Stock or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) effect any reclassification of its Preferred Stock (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock), (iv) effect any consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange into or with any other Person, or (v) effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Rights Agent and, to the extent possible, to each holder of a Rights Certificate, in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, distribution or offering of rights, warrants, options or any similar instrument or the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 10 calendar days prior to the record date for determining holders of the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock, whichever is the earlier.
(b) If a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs, then (i) the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to the Rights Agent and each holder of a Rights Certificate, to the extent feasible and in accordance with Section 25 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, which shall specify the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights and (ii) all references in Section 24(a) hereof to shares of Preferred Stock shall be deemed thereafter to refer to shares of Common Stock or, if appropriate, other securities.
Section 25. Notices.
(a) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing (a) immediately, if made by personal delivery, (b) on the fifth calendar day if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, (c) the next Business Day if by nationally recognized overnight courier or (d) upon confirmation, if transmission by facsimile is combined with a phone call to the Company notifying it of such transmission, all addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Rights Agent) as follows:
Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc.
640 Plaza Drive, Suite 270
Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (720) 598-3501
(b) Except as expressly set forth herein, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently given or made if in writing (a) immediately, if made by personal delivery, (b) on the fifth calendar day if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, (c) the next Business Day if by nationally recognized overnight courier or (d) upon confirmation, if transmission by facsimile is combined with a phone call to the Rights Agent notifying it of such transmission, all addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Rights Agent with the Company) as follows:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
250 Royall Street
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Attention: Legal Department
Facsimile: (312) 601-4348
(c) Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Rights Certificate (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, to the holder of certificates representing shares of Common Stock or an Ownership Statement) shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Rights Agent (or, if prior to the Distribution Date, of the transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock).
Section 26. Supplements and Amendments. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 26, for so long as the Rights are redeemable pursuant to Section 22 hereof, the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any respect without the approval of any holders of Rights. From and after the time at which the Rights cease to be redeemable pursuant to Section 22 hereof, the Company may and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights in order (i) to
cure any ambiguity, (ii) to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, (iii) to shorten or lengthen any time period hereunder or (iv) to amend or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable; provided, however, that no such supplement or amendment shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights (other than an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or certain of their transferees), and no such amendment may cause the Rights again to become redeemable or cause this Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company, by action of the Board, may at any time before any Person becomes an Acquiring Person amend this Agreement to make provisions of this Agreement inapplicable to a particular transaction by which a Person might otherwise become an Acquiring Person or to otherwise alter the terms and conditions of this Agreement as they may apply with respect to such transaction. Upon the delivery of a certificate from an Authorized Officer which states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 26, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Rights Agent shall not be obligated to enter into any supplement or amendment that adversely affects the Rights Agent’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Agreement. No supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Rights Agent.
Section 27. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 28. Determinations and Actions by the Board.
(a) For all purposes of this Agreement, any calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock or any other class of capital stock outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding shares of Common Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 382 of the Code, or any successor provision or replacement provision.
(b) The Board shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the provisions of this Agreement, and (ii) make all determinations and calculations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights or amend this Agreement).
(c) Without limiting any of the rights or increasing the obligations of the Rights Agent hereunder, all such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations which are done or made by the Board in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties. The Rights Agent shall always be
entitled to assume that the Board acted in good faith and the Rights Agent shall be fully protected and shall incur no liability in reliance thereon.
Section 29. Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of shares of Common Stock) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, registered holders of shares of Common Stock).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement or applicable to this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, null and void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any such term, provision, covenant or restriction is held by such court or authority to be invalid, null and void, or unenforceable and the Board determines in its good faith judgment that severing the invalid language from this Agreement would adversely affect the purpose or effect of this Agreement, the right of redemption set forth in Section 22 hereof shall be reinstated and shall not expire until the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day following the date of such determination by the Board; provided, further that if any such excluded term, provision, covenant or restriction shall adversely affect the rights, immunities, duties or obligations of the Rights Agent, the Rights Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Agreement, each Right and each Rights Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State; provided, however, that if any claims or actions are brought by or against the Rights Agent, the rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the Rights Agent shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
Section 32. Counterparts; Facsimiles and PDFs. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A facsimile or .pdf signature delivered electronically shall constitute an original signature for all purposes.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings; Calculation of Time Periods. Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof. Each reference in this Agreement to a period of time following or after a specified date or event shall be calculated without including such specified date or the day on which such specified event occurs.
Section 34. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Rights Agent shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunctions of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war or civil unrest.
Section 35. Further Assurance. The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required or requested by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 36. Confidentiality. The Rights Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Rights holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement including the fees for services provided hereunder shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).
[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
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| | |
| | ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC. |
| | | |
| | By: | /s/ Greg Marken |
| | Name: | Greg Marken |
| | Title: | Chief Accounting Officer |
| | | |
| | | |
| | COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., |
| | as Rights Agent |
| | | |
| | By: | /s/ Patrick Hayes |
| | Name: | Patrick Hayes |
| | Title: | VP & Manager |
| | | |
Signature Page to Tax Asset Protection Plan
Exhibit A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES, AND
RIGHTS OF SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
of
ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.
Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the undersigned officer of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
That pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), the Board of Directors on May 5, 2017, adopted the following resolution creating a series of Preferred Stock designated as Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (as hereinafter defined):
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 151(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors hereby designates 50,000 shares of the preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation as “Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock” and the powers, designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, and other rights of the Preferred Stock and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, be, and they hereby are as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series shall be fifty thousand (50,000).
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Corporation (the “Common Stock”), and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the last day of March, June, September, and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1.00 or (b) subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 10,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after May 5, 2017 (the “Rights Dividend Declaration Date”) (i) pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing or surviving entity), then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph (A) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 10,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or required by law, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) that shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend period on all shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (iii) of this Section 3(C) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that such voting right shall not be exercised unless the holders of 10% in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect directors to fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to two directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two directors. If the number that may be so elected at any special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required number. After the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised their
right to elect directors in any default period and during the continuance of such period, the number of directors shall not be increased or decreased except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have previously exercised their right to elect directors, the Board of Directors may order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the Board of Directors. Notice of such meeting and of any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to this Paragraph (C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to such holder at such holder’s last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 20 days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting within 60 days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than 10% of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Paragraph (C)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within 60 days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the stockholders.
(iv) In any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of the Corporation if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole number of directors until the holders of Preferred Stock, voting as a class, shall have exercised their right to elect two directors, after the exercise of which right (x) the directors so elected by the holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y) any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock that elected the director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this Paragraph (C) to directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include directors elected by such directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.
(v) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect directors shall cease, (y) the term of any directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (C)(ii) of this Section 3 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected by the provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors.
(D) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up) with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation, or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under Paragraph (A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be
retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designation creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution, or Winding Up.
(A) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up) to the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall have received an amount equal to $10,000 per share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “Series B Liquidation Preference”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series B Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Common Adjustment”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series B Liquidation Preference by (ii) 10,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (C) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends, and recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii), the “Adjustment Number”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series B Liquidation Preference and the Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock and holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment Number to one with respect to such Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.
(B) In the event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Series B Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences of all other series of preferred stock, if any, which rank on a parity with the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
(C) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination, or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for, converted or changed into other stock or securities, cash, or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged, converted or changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth) equal to 10,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash, or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed, converted or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Dividend Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange, conversion or change of shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Ranking. The Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.
Section 10. Amendment. At any time when any shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock are outstanding, neither the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation nor this Certificate of Designation shall be amended in any manner that would adversely alter or change the powers, preferences, or any relative, special or other rights of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds or more of the outstanding shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
Section 11. Fractional Shares. The Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share that shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions, and to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designation to be signed by the undersigned this ____th day of May, 2017.
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| | ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC. |
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| | By: | _________________________________________ |
| | Name: | _________________________________________ |
| | Title: | _________________________________________ |
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Exhibit B
FORM OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R- [_______] Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE EARLIER OF (I) MAY 4, 2018 OR (II) THE DATE OF THE 2018 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY, OR SUCH EARLIER DATE AS PROVIDED BY THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AND EXCHANGE AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN) MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE
ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC.
This certifies that ________________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions, and conditions of the Tax Asset Protection Plan, dated as of May 5, 2017 (the “Plan”), between Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company, as Rights Agent (or any successor rights agent, the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Plan) and prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Expiration Date (as such term is defined in the Plan) at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, or its successor as Rights Agent, one ten-thousandth of a fully paid nonassessable share of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company, at a purchase price of $50.00 per one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase and related Certificate properly completed and duly executed. If this Rights Certificate is exercised in part, the holder will be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. The number of Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate (and the number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock which may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of the date of the Plan, based on the shares of Preferred Stock as constituted at such date. All capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan.
As provided in the Plan, the Purchase Price, the number or kind of shares of Preferred Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Plan reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates, which limitations of rights include the temporary suspension of the exercisability of the Rights under the circumstances specified in the Plan. Copies of the Plan are on file at the principal executive offices of the Company and can be obtained from the Company without charge upon written request therefor.
Pursuant to the Plan, from and after the occurrence of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, any Rights that are beneficially owned by (i) any Acquiring Person (or any Affiliate or Associate of any Acquiring Person), (ii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who becomes a transferee after the occurrence of such Person becoming an Acquiring Person or (iii) a transferee of any Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate) who became a transferee prior to or concurrently with such Person becoming an Acquiring Person pursuant to either (a) a transfer from the Acquiring Person (or any such Affiliate or Associate)to holders of its equity securities or to any Person with whom the Acquiring Person has any continuing agreement, arrangement or understanding, written or otherwise, regarding the transferred Rights or (b) a transfer that the Board of Directors of the Company has determined is part of a plan, arrangement or understanding which has the purpose or effect of avoiding certain provisions of the Plan, will be null and void without any further action and any holder of such Rights will thereafter have no rights whatsoever with respect to such Rights, whether under any provision of the Plan or otherwise. From and after the occurrence of any Person becoming an Acquiring Person, no Rights Certificate will be issued that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, and any Rights Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent that represents Rights that are or have become null and void pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be cancelled.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, this Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, may be exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates entitling the holder to purchase a like number of one ten-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) as the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered entitled such holder (or former holder in the case of a transfer) to purchase, upon presentation and surrender hereof at the office or offices of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, with the Form of Assignment (if appropriate) and the related Certificate duly executed.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate may be redeemed by the Company at its option at a redemption price of $0.00001 per Right at any time prior to the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event. In addition, following the time any person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Company may at its option exchange the Rights, in whole or in part, for shares of common stock, Preferred Stock or other preferred stock having equivalent rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Stock. The Plan may be supplemented and amended by the Company, as provided therein.
The Company is not required to issue fractional shares of Preferred Stock (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock, which may, at the option of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) or other securities issuable, as the case may be, upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby. In lieu of issuing fractional shares of Preferred Stock or other securities, the Company may make a cash payment, as provided in the Plan.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, will be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of shares of the Preferred Stock or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of the Right or Rights represented hereby, nor will anything contained herein or in the Plan 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 Plan), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate have been exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
This Rights Certificate will not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it has been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
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WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its corporate seal.
Dated as of ___________________________.
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| | | ADVANCED EMISSIONS SOLUTIONS, INC. |
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| | | By: | ________________________________ |
| | | Name: | ________________________________ |
| | | Title: | ________________________________ |
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| Countersigned: | |
| COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., | | |
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| as Rights Agent | | |
| By: | ______________________________ | | |
| | Authorized Signature | | |
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[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED ____________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto _________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
(Please spell out and include in numerals the
number of Rights being transferred by this Assignment)
of the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________ Attorney, to transfer the number of Rights indicated above on the books of the within named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated: __________________, ______
______________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not being sold, assigned, and transferred by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Plan); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, he, she, or it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was, or subsequently became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ___________________, ______ ___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) at a guarantee level satisfactory to the Rights Agent. A notary public is not sufficient.
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate – continued]
FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed by the registered holder if such holder desires to
exercise any or all Rights evidenced by the Rights Certificate.)
To: Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc.:
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ____________________________ (_______________) Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Rights (or such other securities of the Company or of any other person that may be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights) and requests that certificates for such shares be issued in the name of and delivered to or that such shares be credited to the book‑entry account of:
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print social security or other identifying number)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate for the balance of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print social security or other identifying number)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: ____________________, _____
_______________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program at a guarantee level acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent.
Certificate
The undersigned hereby certifies by checking the appropriate boxes that:
(1) the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate [ ] are [ ] are not being exercised by or on behalf of a Person who is or was an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of any such Acquiring Person (as such terms are defined pursuant to the Plan); and
(2) after due inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, he, she, or it [ ] did [ ] did not acquire the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate from any Person who is, was or became an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person.
Dated: ___________________, ______ ___________________________________
Signature
Signature Guaranteed:
NOTICE
The signature to the foregoing Election to Purchase and Certificate must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Rights Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Exhibit C
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN, RIGHTS THAT ARE OR WERE BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON OR ANY AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE TAX ASSET PROTECTION PLAN) MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS
On May 5, 2017, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (each, a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001, of the Company. The dividend is payable to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2017.
This summary of rights provides only a general description and should be read together with the Tax Asset Protection Plan, dated as of May 5, 2017, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Plan”). All capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan. Upon written request, the Company will provide a copy of the Plan free of charge to any of its stockholders.
The Plan was adopted in an effort to protect stockholder value by attempting to diminish the risk that our ability to use our net operating losses and general business credit carry-overs (collectively, the “Tax Attributes”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations may become substantially limited. We have substantial Tax Attributes. Under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, we may carry forward or otherwise utilize these Tax Attributes in certain circumstances to offset any current and future taxable income and thus reduce our federal income tax liability, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. To the extent that the Tax Attributes do not otherwise become limited, we believe that we will have available a significant amount of Tax Attributes in future years, and therefore these Tax Attributes could be a substantial asset to us. However, if we experience an “ownership change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, our ability to use the Tax Attributes may be substantially limited, and the timing of the usage of the Tax Attributes could be substantially delayed, which could therefore significantly impair the value of that asset. A company experiences an “ownership change” for tax purposes if the percentage of stock owned by its 5% stockholders (as defined for tax purposes) increases by more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period.
The Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of our outstanding common stock without the approval of our Board. Stockholders who beneficially own 4.99% or more of our outstanding common stock upon execution of the Plan will not trigger the Plan so long as they do not acquire beneficial
ownership of additional shares of common stock. Our Board may, in its sole discretion, also exempt any person from triggering the Plan.
The Rights. One Right was issued for each outstanding share of our common stock to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 22, 2017. One Right will also be issued together with each share of our common stock issued after May 22, 2017 but before the Distribution Date (as defined below) and, in certain circumstances, after the Distribution Date. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan, if the Rights become exercisable, each Right would initially represent the right to purchase from us one ten-thousandth of a share of our Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) for a purchase price of $50.00 (the “Purchase Price”). If issued, each fractional share of Series B Preferred Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of our common stock. However, prior to exercise, a Right does not give its holder any rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, any dividend, voting or liquidation rights.
Initial Exercisability. The Rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) ten business days after a public announcement that a person has become an “Acquiring Person” by acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of our outstanding common stock, or, in the case of a person that had beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of our outstanding common stock upon execution of the Plan, by obtaining beneficial ownership of additional shares of common stock or (ii) ten business days (or such later date as may be specified by the Board prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring Person) after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by or on behalf of a person that, if completed, would result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person.
We refer to the date that the Rights become exercisable as the “Distribution Date.” Until the Distribution Date, our common stock certificates or the ownership statements issued with respect to uncertificated shares of common stock will evidence the Rights. Any transfer of shares of common stock prior to the Distribution Date will also constitute a transfer of the associated Rights. After the Distribution Date, separate rights certificates will be issued and the Rights may be transferred other than in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of common stock unless and until our Board has determined to effect an exchange pursuant to the Plan (as described below).
Flip-In Event. In the event that a person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights that are or, under certain circumstances, were beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become null and void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right and payment of the Purchase Price, a number of shares of our common stock having a market value of two times the Purchase Price.
Redemption. At any time until a person becomes an “Acquiring Person”, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.00001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any
redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Exchange. At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights that have become null and void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock, or a fractional share of Series B Preferred Stock (or of a share of a similar class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having similar rights, preferences and privileges) of equivalent value, per Right (subject to adjustment). Immediately upon an exchange of any Rights, the right to exercise such Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the number of shares of common stock (or fractional share of Series B Preferred Stock or of a share of a similar class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having similar rights, preferences and privileges) equal to the number of such Rights held by such holder multiplied by the exchange ratio. The Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after an Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
Expiration. The Rights and the Plan will expire on the earlier of (i) the Close of Business on the earlier of (a) May 4, 2018 or (b) the date of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, (ii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed pursuant to the Plan, (iii) the time at which the Rights are exchanged in full pursuant to the Plan, (iv) the effective date of the repeal of both Section 382 and Section 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provisions or replacement provisions, if the Board determines that the Plan is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits or (v) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company for which the Board determines that the Company has or will have no Tax Benefits.
Anti-Dilution Provisions. Our Board may adjust the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock or other securities or assets issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including among others, a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Series B Preferred Stock or our common stock. With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price.
Amendments. For so long as the Rights are redeemable, our Board may supplement or amend any provision of the Plan in any respect without the approval of the holders of the Rights. From and after the time the Rights are no longer redeemable, our Board may supplement or amend the Plan only to cure an ambiguity, to alter time period provisions, to correct inconsistent provisions, or to make any additional changes to the Plan which the Company may deem necessary or desirable, but only to the extent that those changes do not impair or adversely affect any Rights holder (other than an Acquiring Person or any Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or certain of their transferees) and do not result in the Rights again becoming redeemable or the Plan again becoming amendable other than in accordance with this sentence.
