EXHIBIT 99.1
Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement
SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (as amended from time to time,
this "Agreement"), is made and entered into as of October 13, 1997, between
Checkmate Electronics, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and First
Union National Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall
include any successor Rights Agent hereunder).
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, on October 13, 1997 (the "Rights Dividend Declaration Date"), the
Board of Directors of the Company has (a) authorized and declared a dividend of
one right ("Right") in respect of each share of Common Stock (as hereinafter
defined) held of record as of the close of business on October 24, 1997 (the
"Record Time") and (b) as provided in Section 2.4, authorized the issuance of
one Right in respect of each share of Common Stock issued after the Record Time
and prior to the Separation Time (as hereinafter defined) and, to the extent
provided in Section 5.3, each share of Common Stock issued after the Separation
Time;
WHEREAS, subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, each Right entitles the
holder thereof, after the Separation Time, to purchase securities of the Company
(or, in certain cases, of certain other entities) pursuant to the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Rights Agent to act on behalf
of the Company, and the Rights Agent is willing so to act, in connection with
the issuance, transfer, exchange and replacement of Rights Certificates (as
hereinafter defined), the exercise of Rights and other matters referred to
herein;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
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1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings indicated:
"Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who is a Beneficial Owner of 15%
or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that the
term "Acquiring Person" shall not include any Person (i) who is the Beneficial
Owner of 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on the date of
this Agreement or who shall become the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock solely as a result of an acquisition by the
Company of shares of Common Stock, until such time hereafter or thereafter as
any of such Person shall become the Beneficial Owner (other than by means of a
stock dividend or
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stock split) of any additional shares of Common Stock, or (ii) who is the
Beneficial Owner of 15%, or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock but
who acquired Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock without any plan or
intention to seek or effect control of the Company, if such Person promptly
enters into an irrevocable commitment promptly to divest, and thereafter
promptly divests (without exercising or retaining any power, including voting
power, with respect to such shares), sufficient shares of Common Stock (or
securities convertible into, exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock)
so that such Person ceases to be the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Company, any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company and any employee stock ownership or other employee
benefit plan of the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company shall
not be an Acquiring Person.
"Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective meanings ascribed to
such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as such Rule
is in effect on the date of this Agreement.
A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner," and to have "Beneficial
Ownership" of, and to "Beneficially Own," any securities as to which such Person
or any of such Person's Affiliates or Associates is or may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of pursuant to Rule 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities
Exchange Act, as such Rules are in effect on the date of this Agreement as well
as any securities as to which such Person or any of such Person's Affiliates or
Associates has the right to become Beneficial Owner (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
conditions) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the
exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than the Rights),
warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the "Beneficial Owner," or to have "Beneficial Ownership" of, or to
"Beneficially Own," any security (i) solely because such security has been
tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of
such Person's Affiliates or Associates until such tendered security is accepted
for payment or exchange or (ii) solely because such Person or any of such
Person's Affiliates or Associates has or shares the power to vote or direct the
voting of such security pursuant to a revocable proxy given in response to a
public proxy or consent solicitation made to more than ten holders of shares of
a class of stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable
rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except if such
power (or the arrangements relating thereto) is then reportable under Item 6 of
Schedule 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any similar provision
of a comparable or successor report). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no officer
or director of the Company shall be deemed to Beneficially Own any securities of
any other Person by virtue of any actions such officer or director takes in such
capacity. For purposes of this Agreement, in determining the percentage of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Person is the
Beneficial Owner, all shares as to which such Person is deemed the Beneficial
Owner shall be deemed outstanding.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions in Atlanta, Georgia, or the state in which the
principal office of the Rights Agent is located are generally authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
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"Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m. Atlanta, Georgia
time on such date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, 5:00 p.m. Atlanta,
Georgia time on the next succeeding Business Day).
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company.
"Continuing Director" shall mean (i) any member of the Board of Directors
of the Company, while such Person is a member of the Board, who is not an
Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a
representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate, and
was a member of the Board prior to the date of this Agreement, or (ii) any
Person who subsequently becomes a member of the Board, while such Person is a
member of the Board, who is not an Acquiring Person, or an Affiliate or
Associate of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or
of any such Affiliate or Associate, if such Person's nomination for election or
election to the Board is recommended or approved by a majority of the Continuing
Directors.
"Exchange Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 3.1(c) hereof.
"Exercise Price" shall mean, as of any date, the price at which a holder
may purchase the securities issuable upon exercise of one whole Right. Until
adjustment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof, the Exercise Price shall
equal $50.00.
"Expiration Time" shall mean the earliest of (i) the Exchange Time, (ii)
the Redemption Time, and (iii) October 24, 2007.
"Flip-In Date" shall mean the tenth business day after any Stock
Acquisition Date.
"Flip-Over Entity" for purposes of Section 3.2, shall mean (i) in the case
of a Flip-Over Transaction or Event described in clause (i) of the definition
thereof, the Person issuing any securities into which shares of Common Stock are
being converted or exchanged and, if no such securities are being issued, the
other party to such Flip-Over Transaction or Event and (ii) in the case of a
Flip-Over Transaction or Event referred to in clause (ii) of the definition
thereof, the Person receiving the greatest portion of the assets or earning
power being transferred in such Flip-Over Transaction or Event, provided in all
cases if such Person is a subsidiary of a corporation, the parent corporation
shall be the Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Stock" shall mean the capital stock (or similar equity interest)
with the greatest voting power in respect of the election of directors (or other
persons similarly responsible for direction of the business and affairs) of the
Flip-Over Entity.
"Flip-Over Transaction or Event" shall mean a transaction or series of
transactions after a Flip-In Date in which, directly or indirectly, (i) the
Company shall consolidate or merge or participate in a share exchange with any
other Person if, at the time of the consolidation, merger or share exchange or
at the time the Company enters into any agreement with respect to any such
consolidation, merger or share exchange, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board
of Directors of
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the Company and either (A) any term of or arrangement concerning the treatment
of shares of capital stock in such consolidation, merger or share exchange
relating to the Acquiring Person is not identical to the terms and arrangements
relating to other holders of the Common Stock or (B) the Person with whom the
transaction or series of transactions occurs is the Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate of the Acquiring Person or (ii) the Company shall sell or
otherwise transfer (or one or more of its Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise
transfer) assets (A) aggregating more than 50% of the assets (measured by either
book value or fair market value) or (B) generating more than 50% of the
operating income or cash flow, of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to any Person (other than the Company or one or more of its wholly owned
Subsidiaries) or to two or more such Persons which are Affiliates or Associates
or otherwise acting in concert, if, at the time of the entry by the Company (or
any such Subsidiary) into an agreement with respect to such sale or transfer of
assets, the Acquiring Person Controls the Board of Directors of the Company. An
Acquiring Person shall be deemed to "Control" the Company's Board of Directors
when, following a Flip-In Date, either (x) the persons who were directors of the
Company before the Flip-In Date shall cease to constitute a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors or (y) Continuing Directors shall not constitute a
majority of the Company's Board of Directors.
"Market Price" per share of any securities on any date shall mean the
average of the daily closing prices per share of such securities (determined as
described below) on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days through and
including the Trading Day immediately preceding such date; provided, however,
that if an event of a type analogous to any of the events described in Section
2.4 hereof shall have caused the closing prices used to determine the Market
Price on any Trading Days during such period of 20 Trading Days not to be fully
comparable with the closing price on such date, each such closing price so used
shall be appropriately adjusted in order to make it fully comparable with the
closing price on such date. The closing price per share of any securities on
any date shall be the last reported sale price, regular way, or, in case no such
sale takes place or is quoted on such date, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, for each share of such securities, in either case as
reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect
to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., as reported in the principal consolidated transaction
reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national
securities exchange on which the securities are listed or admitted to trading
or, if the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Nasdaq National Market System or such other system then in use,
or, if on any such date the securities are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange or quoted by any such organization, the average
of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the securities selected by the Board of Directors of the
Company; provided, however, that if on any such date the securities are not
listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market, the closing price per share of such securities on such
date shall mean the fair value per share of securities on such date as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, after
consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking firm, and set forth
in a certificate delivered to the Rights Agent.
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"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, association, group
(as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as such Rule is in effect on the date of this Agreement), corporation or other
entity.
"Redemption Price" shall mean an amount equal to one cent, $0.01.
"Redemption Time" shall mean the time at which the right to exercise the
Rights shall terminate pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof.
"Separation Time" shall mean the close of business on the earlier of (i)
the tenth business day after the date on which any Person commences a tender or
exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such Person's becoming an
Acquiring Person and (ii) the Flip-In Date; provided, that if the foregoing
results in the Separation Time being prior to the Record Time, the Separation
Time shall be the Record Time and provided further, that if any tender or
exchange offer referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph is canceled,
terminated or otherwise withdrawn prior to the Separation Time without the
purchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto, such offer shall be
deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, never to have been made.
"Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of public announcement
by the Company (by any means) that an Acquiring Person has become such.
"Subsidiary" of any specified Person shall mean any corporation or other
entity of which a majority of the voting power of the equity securities or a
majority of the equity interest is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly,
by such Person.
"Trading Day," when used with respect to any securities, shall mean a day
on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for the transaction of
business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to trading on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., a day on which the principal national securities
exchange on which such securities are listed or admitted to trading is open for
the transaction of business or, if such securities are not listed or admitted to
trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
ARTICLE II
THE RIGHTS
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2.1 Summary of Rights. As soon as practicable after the Record Time,
the Company will mail a letter summarizing the terms of the Rights to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Record Time, at such holder's address
as shown by the records of the Company.
2.2 Legend on Common Stock Certificates. Certificates for the Common
Stock issued after the Record Time but prior to the Separation Time shall
evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock represented thereby and shall
have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the
following legend:
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"Until the Separation Time (as defined in the Rights Agreement referred to
below), this certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to
certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of October 13,
1997 (as such may be amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"),
between Checkmate Electronics, Inc. (the "Company") and First Union
National Bank, as Rights Agent, the terms of which are hereby incorporated
herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal
executive offices of the Company. Under certain circumstances, as set
forth in the Rights Agreement, such Rights may be redeemed, may become
exercisable for securities or assets of the Company or of another entity,
may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock or other securities or assets
of the Company, may expire, may become void (if they are "Beneficially
Owned" by an "Acquiring Person" or an Affiliate or Associate thereof, as
such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement, or by any transferee of any
of the foregoing) or may be evidenced by separate certificates and may no
longer be evidenced by this certificate. The Company will mail or arrange
for the mailing of a copy of the Rights Agreement to the holder of this
certificate without charge promptly after the receipt of a written request
therefor."
Certificates representing shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
at the Record Time shall evidence one Right for each share of Common Stock
evidenced thereby notwithstanding the absence of the foregoing legend.
2.3 Exercise of Rights; Separation of Rights. (a) Subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10 and subject to adjustment as herein set forth, each Right will
entitle the holder thereof, after the Separation Time and prior to the
Expiration Time, to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one share of Common Stock.
(b) Until the Separation Time, (i) no Right may be exercised and (ii) each
Right will be evidenced by the certificate for the associated share of Common
Stock (together, in the case of certificates issued prior to the Record Time,
with the letter or notice mailed to the record holder thereof pursuant to
Section 2.1) and will be transferable only together with, and will be
transferred by a transfer (whether with or without such letter or notice) of,
such associated share.
(c) Subject to this Section 2.3 and to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, the Rights (i) may be
exercised and (ii) may be transferred independent of shares of Common Stock.
Promptly following the Separation Time, the Rights Agent will mail to each
holder of record of Common Stock as of the Separation Time (other than any
Person whose Rights have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)), at such
holder's address as shown by the records of the Company (the Company hereby
agreeing to furnish copies of such records to the Rights Agent for this
purpose), (x) a certificate (a "Rights Certificate") in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto appropriately completed, representing the number of Rights
held by such holder at the Separation Time and having such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any
law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or
regulation of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the
Rights
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may from time to time be listed or traded, or to conform to usage, and (y) a
disclosure statement describing the Rights.
(d) Subject to Sections 3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, Rights may be exercised on any
Business Day after the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time by
submitting to the Rights Agent the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights
with an Election to Exercise (an "Election to Exercise" substantially in the
form attached to the Rights Certificate duly completed, accompanied by payment
in cash, or by certified or official bank check or money order payable to the
order of the Company, of a sum equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the
number of Rights being exercised and a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax
or charge which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the
transfer or delivery of Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of
certificates for shares or depositary receipts (or both) in a name other than
that of the holder of the Rights being exercised.
(e) Upon receipt of a Rights Certificate, with an Election to Exercise
accompanied by payment as set forth in Section 2.3(d), and subject to Sections
3.1, 5.1 and 5.10, the Rights Agent will thereupon promptly (i)(A) requisition
from a transfer agent stock certificates evidencing such number of shares or
other securities to be purchased (the Company hereby irrevocably authorizing its
transfer agents to comply with all such requisitions) and (B) if the Company
elects pursuant to Section 5.5 not to issue certificates representing fractional
shares, requisition from the depositary selected by the Company depositary
receipts representing the fractional shares to be purchased or requisition from
the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares in
accordance with Section 5.5 and (ii) after receipt of such certificates,
depositary receipts and/or cash, deliver the same to or upon the order of the
registered holder of such Rights Certificate, registered (in the case of
certificates or depositary receipts) in such name or names as may be designated
by such holder.
(f) In case the holder of any Rights shall exercise less than all the
Rights evidenced by such holder's Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate
evidencing the Rights remaining unexercised will be issued by the Rights Agent
to such holder or to such holder's duly authorized assigns.
(g) The Company covenants and agrees that it will (i) take all such action
as may be necessary to ensure that all shares delivered upon exercise of Rights
shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such shares (subject to
payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized, executed, issued
and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable; (ii) take all such action as may
be necessary to comply with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act of
1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and any other applicable law, rule or regulation, in connection with
the issuance of any shares upon exercise of Rights; and (iii) pay when due and
payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges which may be
payable in respect of the original issuance or delivery of the Rights
Certificates or of any shares issued upon the exercise of Rights, provided that
the Company shall not be required to pay any transfer tax or charge which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the transfer or delivery of
Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for shares in a
name other than that of the holder of the Rights being transferred or exercised.
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2.4 Adjustments to Exercise Price; Number of Rights. (a) In the event
the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior to the Separation
Time (i) declare or pay a dividend on Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, (x) the Exercise Price in
effect after such adjustment will be equal to the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment divided by the number of shares of Common
Stock (the "Expansion Factor") that a holder of one share of Common Stock
immediately prior to such dividend, subdivision or combination would hold
thereafter as a result thereof and (y) each Right held prior to such adjustment
will become that number of Rights equal to the Expansion Factor, and the
adjusted number of Rights will be deemed to be distributed among the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the original Rights were associated (if they
remain outstanding) and the shares issued in respect of such dividend,
subdivision or combination, so that each such share of Common Stock will have
exactly one Right associated with it. Each adjustment made pursuant to this
paragraph shall be made as of the payment or effective date for the applicable
dividend, subdivision or combination.
In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and prior
to the Separation Time issue any shares of Common Stock otherwise than in a
transaction referred to in the preceding paragraph, each such share of Common
Stock so issued shall automatically have one new Right associated with it, which
Right shall be evidenced by the certificate representing such share. To the
extent provided in Section 5.3, Rights shall be issued by the Company in respect
of shares of Common Stock that are issued or sold by the Company after the
Separation Time.
(b) In the event the Company shall at any time after the Record Time and
prior to the Separation Time issue or distribute any securities or assets in
respect of, in lieu of or in exchange for Common Stock (other than pursuant to a
regular periodic cash dividend or a dividend paid solely in Common Stock)
whether by dividend, in a reclassification or recapitalization (including any
such transaction involving a merger, consolidation or share exchange), or
otherwise, the Company shall make such adjustments, if any, in the Exercise
Price, number of Rights and/or securities or other property purchasable upon
exercise of Rights as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may deem to be appropriate under the circumstances in order to
adequately protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally, and the
Company and the Rights Agent shall amend this Agreement as necessary to provide
for such adjustments.
(c) Each adjustment to the Exercise Price made pursuant to this Section 2.4
shall be calculated to the nearest cent. Whenever an adjustment to the Exercise
Price is made pursuant to this Section 2.4, the Company shall (i) promptly
prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the
facts accounting for such adjustment and (ii) promptly file with the Rights
Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Stock a copy of such
certificate. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such
certificate and on any adjustment therein and shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received such a
certificate.
Rights certificates shall represent the securities purchasable under the
terms of this Agreement, including any adjustment or change in the securities
purchasable upon exercise of the
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Rights, even though such certificates may continue to express the securities
purchasable at the time of issuance of the initial Rights Certificates.
2.5 Date on Which Exercise is Effective. Each person in whose name any
certificate for shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all
purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares represented
thereby on the date upon which the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was
duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price for such Rights (and any
applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the exercising holder
hereunder) was made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and
payment is a date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed,
such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on,
and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which
the stock transfer books of the Company are open.
2.6 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating of Rights
Certificates. (a) The Rights Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, President or one of its Vice Presidents,
under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of
its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Rights
Certificates may be manual or facsimile.
Rights Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind
the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to
hold such offices prior to the countersignature and delivery of such Rights
Certificates.
Promptly after the Separation Time, the Company will notify the Rights
Agent of such Separation Time and will deliver Rights Certificates executed by
the Company to the Rights Agent for countersignature, and, subject to Section
3.1(b), an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent shall manually countersign
and deliver such Rights Certificates to the holders of the Rights pursuant to
Section 2.3(c) hereof. No Rights Certificate shall be valid for any purpose
unless manually countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Rights Agent.
(b) Each Rights Certificate shall be dated the date of countersignature
thereof.
2.7 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. (a) After the
Separation Time, the Company will cause to be kept a register (the "Rights
Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe,
the Company will provide for the registration and transfer of Rights. The
Rights Agent is hereby appointed "Rights Registrar" for the purpose of
maintaining the Rights Register for the Company and registering Rights and
transfers of Rights after the Separation Time as herein provided. In the event
that the Rights Agent shall cease to be the Rights Registrar, the Rights Agent
will have the right to examine the Rights Register at all reasonable times after
the Separation Time.
After the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time, upon surrender
for registration of transfer or exchange of any Rights Certificate, and subject
to the provisions of Section 2.7(c) and (d), the Company will execute and the
Rights Agent will countersign and deliver, in the name of the holder or the
designated transferee or transferees, as required pursuant
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to the holder's instructions, one or more new Rights Certificates evidencing the
same aggregate number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.1(b), all Rights issued upon
any registration of transfer or exchange of Rights Certificates shall be the
valid obligations of the Company, and such Rights shall be entitled to the same
benefits under this Agreement as the Rights surrendered upon such registration
of transfer or exchange.
(c) Every Rights Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Rights Agent, as the case
may be, duly executed by the holder thereof or such holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights
Certificate under this Section 2.7, the Company may require the payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto.
(d) The Company shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange
of any Rights after such Rights have become void under Section 3.1(b), been
exchanged under Section 3.1(c) or been redeemed under Section 5.1.
2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Rights Certificates. (a) If any
mutilated Rights Certificate is surrendered to the Rights Agent prior to the
Expiration Time, then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1, the Company
shall execute and the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same number of Rights as did
the Rights Certificate so surrendered.
(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Rights Agent prior
to the Expiration Time (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Rights Certificate and (ii) such security or indemnity as
may be required by them to save each of them and any of their agents harmless,
then, subject to Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(c) and 5.1 and in the absence of notice to
the Company or the Rights Agent that such Rights Certificate has been acquired
by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the
Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost
or stolen Rights Certificate, a new Rights Certificate evidencing the same
number of Rights as did the Rights Certificate so destroyed, lost or stolen.
(c) As a condition to the issuance of any new Rights Certificate under this
Section 2.8, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and
any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Rights Agent)
connected therewith.
(d) Every new Rights Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall evidence an
original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the
destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and, subject to Section 3.1(b), shall be entitled to all the benefits of
this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Rights duly
issued hereunder.
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2.9 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Rights
Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock
certificate) for registration of transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any
agent of the Company or the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose
name such Rights Certificate (or, prior to the Separation Time, such Common
Stock certificate) is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights
evidenced thereby for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the
Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. As used in this
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "holder" of any
Rights shall mean the registered holder of such Rights (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated shares of Common Stock).
2.10 Delivery and Cancellation of Certificates. All Rights
Certificates surrendered upon exercise or for registration of transfer or
exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the Rights Agent, be
delivered to the Rights Agent and, in any case, shall be promptly canceled by
the Rights Agent. The Company may at any time deliver to the Rights Agent for
cancellation any Rights Certificates previously countersigned and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all
Rights Certificates so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Rights Agent.
No Rights Certificates shall be countersigned in lieu of or in exchange for any
Rights Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 2.10, except as
expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Rights Agent shall return all
canceled Rights Certificates to the Company.
2.11 Agreement of Rights Holders. Every holder of Rights by accepting
the same consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and with
every other holder of Rights that:
(a) prior to the Separation Time, each Right will be transferable only
together with, and will be transferred by a transfer of, the associated share of
Common Stock;
(b) after the Separation Time, the Rights Certificates will be transferable
only on the Rights Register as provided herein;
(c) prior to due presentment of a Rights Certificate (or, prior to the
Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Rights Agent and any agent of the Company or the
Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Rights Certificate
(or, prior to the Separation Time, the associated Common Stock certificate) is
registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced thereby for
all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary;
(d) Rights beneficially owned by certain Persons will, under the
circumstances set forth in Section 3.1(b), become void;
(e) this Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) or 5.4 hereof; and
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(f) 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 Persons as a result of its inability to perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement by reason of any preliminary or permanent injunction or
other order, decree or ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by
a governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or commission, or any
statute, rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any
governmental authority, prohibiting or otherwise restraining performance of such
obligation; provided, however, the Company must use its best efforts to have any
such order, decree or ruling lifted or otherwise overturned as soon as possible.
ARTICLE III
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHTS IN
THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
---------------------------------
3.1 Flip-in. (a) In the event that prior to the Expiration Time a
Flip-In Date shall occur, except as provided in this Section 3.1, each Right
shall constitute the right to purchase from the Company, upon exercise thereof
in accordance with the terms hereof (but subject to Section 5.10), that number
of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Price on the Stock
Acquisition Date equal to twice the Exercise Price for an amount in cash equal
to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately adjusted in order to
protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in the event that on or
after such Stock Acquisition Date an event of a type analogous to any of the
events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have occurred with respect to
the Common Stock).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Rights that are or were Beneficially
Owned on or after the Stock Acquisition Date by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof or by any transferee, direct or indirect, of any
of the foregoing shall become void and any holder of such Rights (including
transferees) shall thereafter have no right to exercise or transfer such Rights
under any provision of this Agreement. If any Rights Certificate is presented
for assignment or exercise and the Person presenting the same will not complete
the certification set forth at the end of the form of assignment or notice of
election to exercise and provide such additional evidence of the identity of the
Beneficial Owner and its Affiliates and Associates (or former Beneficial Owners
and their Affiliates and Associates) as the Company shall reasonably request,
then the Company shall be entitled conclusively to deem the Beneficial Owner
thereof to be an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced thereby to be void and not transferable or exercisable.
(c) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option and with the
concurrence of a majority of the Continuing Directors, at any time after a Flip-
In Date and prior to the time that an Acquiring Person becomes the Beneficial
Owner of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, elect to
exchange all (but not less than all) the then outstanding Rights (which shall
not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section
3.1(b)) for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common
Stock per Right, appropriately adjusted in order to protect the interests of
holders of
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Rights generally in the event that after the Separation Time an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Common Stock (such exchange ratio, as adjusted from
time to time, being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Ratio").
Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to exchange the Rights, without any further action and without any
notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and each Right (other
than Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) will thereafter
represent only the right to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio. Promptly after the action of the Board of Directors
electing to exchange the Rights, the Company shall give notice thereof
(specifying the steps to be taken to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange
for Rights) to the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights (other than Rights
that have become void pursuant to Section 3.1(b)) outstanding immediately prior
thereto by mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9.
Each Person in whose name any certificate for shares is issued upon the
exchange of Rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(c) or Section 3.1(d) shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the shares
represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which
the Rights Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment
of any applicable taxes and other governmental charges payable by the holder was
made; provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a
date upon which the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such
Certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the stock
transfer books of the Company are open.
(d) In the event that there shall not be sufficient treasury shares or
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company to permit the
exercise or exchange in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(a) or
(c), the Company shall either (i) call a meeting of shareholders seeking
approval to cause sufficient additional shares to be authorized (provided that
if such approval is not obtained the Company will take the action specified in
clause (ii) of this sentence) or (ii) take such action as shall be necessary to
ensure and provide, to the extent permitted by applicable law and any agreements
or instruments in effect on the Stock Acquisition Date to which it is a party,
that each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to receive, (x) at the
Company's option, either (A) in return for the Exercise Price, cash, debt or
equity securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value
equal to twice the Exercise Price, or (B) without payment of consideration
(except as otherwise required by applicable law), cash, debt or equity
securities or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal
to the Exercise Price, or (y) if the Board of Directors of the Company elects to
exchange the Rights in accordance with Section 3.1(c), debt or equity securities
or other assets (or a combination thereof) having a fair value equal to the
product of the Market Price of a share of Common Stock on the Flip-In Date times
the Exchange Ratio in effect on the Flip-In Date, where in any case set forth in
(x) or (y) above the fair value of such debt or equity securities or other
assets shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company, after consultation with a nationally recognized investment banking
firm.
-14-
3.2 Flip-over. (a) Prior to the Expiration Time, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-Over Transaction or Event unless and until it shall have entered into a
supplemental agreement with the Flip-Over Entity, for the benefit of the holders
of the Rights, providing that, upon consummation or occurrence of the Flip-Over
Transaction or Event (i) each Right shall thereafter constitute the right to
purchase from the Flip-Over Entity, upon exercise thereof in accordance with the
terms hereof, that number of shares of Flip-Over Stock of the Flip-Over Entity
having an aggregate Market Price on the date of consummation or occurrence of
such Flip-Over Transaction or Event equal to twice the Exercise Price for an
amount in cash equal to the Exercise Price (such right to be appropriately
adjusted in order to protect the interests of the holders of Rights generally in
the event that after such date of consummation or occurrence an event of a type
analogous to any of the events described in Section 2.4(a) or (b) shall have
occurred with respect to the Flip-Over Stock) and (ii) the Flip-Over Entity
shall thereafter be liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such Flip-Over
Transaction or Event and such supplemental agreement, all the obligations and
duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The provisions of this
Section 3.2 shall apply to successive Flip-Over Transactions or Events.
(b) Prior to the Expiration Time, unless the Rights will be redeemed
pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof in connection therewith, the Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to, consummate or permit to occur any
Flip-Over Transaction or Event if at the time thereof there are any rights,
warrants or securities outstanding or any other arrangements, agreements or
instruments that would eliminate or otherwise diminish in any material respect
the benefits intended to be afforded by this Rights Agreement to the holders of
Rights upon consummation of such transaction.
ARTICLE IV
THE RIGHTS AGENT
----------------
4.1 General. (a) The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as
agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and
the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company agrees to pay to
the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it
hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable
expenses and counsel fees and other disbursements incurred in the administration
and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties
hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent, its
directors, officers, employees and agents for, and to hold each of them harmless
against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent or such indemnified
party, for anything done or omitted to be done by the Rights Agent in connection
with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement or the exercise or
performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending against any claim of liability. The indemnity provided in this
Section 4.1(a) shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of
this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its
administration of this Agreement
-15-
or the exercise or performance of its duties hereunder in reliance upon any
certificate for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights, Rights
Certificate, certificate for other securities of the Company, instrument of
assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter,
notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary,
verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons.
4.2 Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent. (a) Any
corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be
merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from
any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent is a party, or any corporation 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 corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor
Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof. In case at the time
such successor Rights Agent succeeds to the agency created by this Agreement any
of the Rights Certificates have been countersigned but not delivered, any such
successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights
Agent and deliver such Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that
time any of the Rights Certificates have not been countersigned, any successor
Rights Agent may countersign such Rights Certificates either in the name of the
predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in
all such cases such Rights Certificates will have the full force provided in the
Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent is changed and at such
time any of the Rights Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name
and deliver Rights Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any
of the Rights Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent
may countersign such Rights Certificates either in its prior name or in its
changed name; and in all such cases such Rights Certificates shall have the full
force provided in the Rights Certificates and in this Agreement.
4.3 Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and
obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions,
by all of which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their
acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) The Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal
counsel for the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel will be full
and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action
taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the
Rights Agent deems it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved
or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by a certificate signed by a person believed by the Rights Agent to be the
Chairman of
-16-
the Board, the President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company
and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate will be full
authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith
by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent will be liable hereunder only for its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent will not be liable for or by reason of any of the
statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement or in the
certificates for securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or the Rights
Certificates (except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the
same, but all such statements and recitals are and will be deemed to have been
made by the Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent will not be under any responsibility in respect of the
validity of any provision of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof
(except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights
Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any certificate for
securities purchasable upon exercise of Rights or Rights Certificate (except its
countersignature thereof); nor will it be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any
Rights Certificate; nor will it be responsible for any change in the
exercisability of the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to
Section 3.1(b) hereof) or any adjustment required under any provision of this
Agreement or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment
or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights after receipt of the
certificate contemplated by Section 2.4 describing any such adjustment); nor
will it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as
to the authorization or reservation of any securities purchasable upon exercise
of Rights or any Rights or as to whether any securities purchasable upon
exercise of Rights will, when issued, be duly and validly authorized, executed,
issued and delivered and fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and
deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such
further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required
by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of
the provisions of this Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept
instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any
person believed by the Rights Agent to be the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Vice President or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary or
the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such
persons for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall
not be liable for any action taken or suffered by it in good faith in accordance
with instructions of any such person, or for any delay in acting while awaiting
instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from
the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any
action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement
and the date on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall
be effective. The Rights
-17-
Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights
Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after
the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than five
Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such
application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an
earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in
the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written
instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken
or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any shareholder, director, officer or employee of
the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in Common Stock, Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not Rights Agent
under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from
acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers
hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through
its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent will not be answerable or
accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or
agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default,
neglect or misconduct, provided the Rights Agent was not grossly negligent in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) The Rights Agent undertakes only the express duties and obligations
imposed on it by this Agreement and no implied duties or obligations shall be
read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent.
(k) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event
shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or
damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits).
(l) 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.
4.4 Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent may resign and be
discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 90 days notice (or such
lesser notice as is acceptable to the Company) in writing mailed to the Company
and to each transfer agent of Common Stock by registered or certified mail, and
to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. The Company may
remove the Rights Agent upon 30 days notice in writing, mailed to the Rights
Agent and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock by registered or certified
mail, and to the holders of the Rights in accordance with Section 5.9. If the
Rights Agent should resign or be removed or otherwise become incapable of
acting, the Company will appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the
Company fails to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such
removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or
incapacity by the
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resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights (which
holder shall, with such notice, submit such holder's Rights Certificate for
inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Rights may apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any
successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court,
shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or of the State of Georgia or any other State of the United
States, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise the
powers of the Rights Agent contemplated by this Agreement and is subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the
time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at
least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a corporation described in the
immediately preceding clause (a). After appointment, the successor Rights Agent
will be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if
it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but
the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights
Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose. Not later
than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company will file notice
thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of
the Common Stock, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the holders of the
Rights. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 4.4, however,
or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the
resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
5.1 Redemption. (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, at its
option, at any time prior to the close of business on the Flip-In Date, elect to
redeem all (but not less than all) of the then outstanding Rights at the
Redemption Price and the Company, at its option, may pay the Redemption Price
either in cash or shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company
deemed by the Board of Directors, in the exercise of its sole discretion, to be
at least equivalent in value to the Redemption Price.; provided however, if the
Board of Directors of the Company authorizes redemption of the Rights in either
of the circumstances set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) below, then there must be
Continuing Directors then in office and such authorization shall require the
concurrence of a majority of such Continuing Directors: (i) such authorization
occurs on or after the time a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such
authorization occurs on or after the date of a change (resulting from a proxy or
consent solicitation) in a majority of the directors in office at the
commencement of such solicitation if any Person who is a participant in such
solicitation has stated (or, if upon the commencement of such solicitation, a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith)
that such Person (or any of its Affiliates or Associates) intends to take, or
may consider taking, any action which would result in such Person becoming an
Acquiring Person or which would cause the occurrence of a Flip-Over Transaction
or Event.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company
electing to redeem the Rights (or, if the resolution of the Board of Directors
electing to redeem the Rights states that the redemption will not be effective
until the occurrence of a specified future time or
-19-
event, upon the occurrence of such future time or event), without any further
action and without any notice, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and each Right will thereafter represent only the right to receive the
Redemption Price in cash or securities, as determined by the Board of Directors.
Promptly after the Rights are redeemed, the Company shall give notice of such
redemption to the Rights Agent and the holders of the then outstanding Rights by
mailing such notice in accordance with Section 5.9. .
5.2 Expiration. The Rights and this Agreement shall expire at the
Expiration Time and no Person shall have any rights pursuant to this Agreement
or any Right after the Expiration Time, except, if the Rights are exchanged or
redeemed, as provided in Section 3.1 or 5.1 hereof.
5.3 Issuance of New Rights Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the Company may,
at its option, issue new Rights Certificates evidencing Rights in such form as
may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in
the number or kind or class of shares of stock purchasable upon exercise of
Rights made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. In addition,
in connection with the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock by the Company
following the Separation Time and prior to the Redemption Time or Expiration
Time pursuant to the terms of securities convertible or redeemable into shares
of Common Stock or to options, in each case issued or granted prior to, and
outstanding at, the Separation Time, the Company shall issue to the holders of
such shares of Common Stock, Rights Certificates representing the appropriate
number of Rights in connection with the issuance or sale of such shares of
Common Stock; provided, however, in each case, (i) no such Rights Certificate
shall be issued, if, and to the extent that, the Company shall be advised by
counsel that such issuance would create a significant risk of material adverse
tax consequences to the Company or to the Person to whom such Rights
Certificates would be issued, (ii) no such Rights Certificates shall be issued
if, and to the extent that, appropriate adjustment shall have otherwise been
made in lieu of the issuance thereof, and (iii) the Company shall have no
obligation to distribute Rights Certificates to any Acquiring Person or
Affiliate or Associate of an Acquiring Person or any transferee of any of the
foregoing.
5.4 Supplements and Amendments. The Company and the Rights Agent may
from time to time supplement or amend this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of Rights (i) prior to the close of business on the Flip-In Date, in any
respect and (ii) after the close of business on the Flip-In Date, to make any
changes that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of Rights generally or
in order to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained herein which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or
otherwise defective; provided, that no such proposed supplement or amendment to
this Agreement pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) shall be effective
unless (x) there shall be Continuing Directors and (y) a majority of such
Continuing Directors, at a meeting of Directors duly called and held, votes in
favor of the adoption of such proposed supplement or amendment. The Rights
Agent will duly execute and deliver any supplement or amendment hereto requested
by the Company upon receipt of a certificate signed by a Continuing Director
that such supplement or amendment satisfies the terms of the preceding sentence.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no
supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent
under this Agreement shall be effective without the consent of the Rights Agent.
-20-
5.5 Fractional Shares. If the Company elects not to issue certificates
representing fractional shares upon exercise or redemption of Rights, the
Company shall, in lieu thereof, in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors, either (a) evidence such fractional shares by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary
selected by it, providing that each holder of a depositary receipt shall have
all of the rights, privileges and preferences to which such holder would be
entitled as a beneficial owner of such fractional share, or (b) sell such shares
on behalf of the holders of Right and pay to the registered holder of such
Rights the appropriate fraction of price per share received upon such sale.
5.6 Rights of Action. Subject to the terms of this Agreement (including
Section 3.1(b)), rights of action in respect of this Agreement, other than
rights of action vested solely in the Rights Agent, are vested in the respective
holders of the Rights; and any holder of any Rights, without the consent of the
Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Rights, may, on such holder's own
behalf and for such holder's own benefit and the benefit of other holders of
Rights, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder's
right to exercise such holder Rights in the manner provided in such holder's
Rights Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or any
remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged
that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any
breach of this Agreement and will be entitled to specific performance of the
obligations under, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations
of, the obligations of any Person subject to this Agreement.
5.7 Holder of Rights Not Deemed a Shareholder. No holder, as such, of
any Rights shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any
purpose the holder of shares or any other securities which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise of such Rights, nor shall anything contained herein or
in any Rights Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Rights,
as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote
for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to shareholders at
any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or
to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting shareholders (except as
provided in Section 5.8 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights,
or otherwise, until such Rights shall have been exercised or exchanged in
accordance with the provisions hereof.
5.8 Notice of Proposed Actions. In case the Company shall propose after
the Separation Time and prior to the Expiration Time (i) to effect or permit
occurrence of any Flip-Over Transaction or Event or (ii) to effect the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then, in each such case,
the Company shall give to each holder of a Right, in accordance with Section 5.9
hereof, a notice of such proposed action, which shall specify the date on which
such Flip-Over Transaction or Event, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up is
to take place, and such notice shall be so given at least 20 Business Days prior
to the date of the taking of such proposed action.
5.9 Notices. Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement
to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Rights to or on
the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-
class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
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Checkmate Electronics, Inc.
1003 Mansell Road
Roswell, Georgia 30076
Attention: Secretary
Any notice or demand authorized or required by this Agreement to be given
or made by the Company or by the holder of any Rights to or on the Rights Agent
shall be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the
Company) as follows:
First Union National Bank
230 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288
Attention: Shareholder Services
Notices or demands authorized or required by this Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to or on the holder of any Rights shall
be sufficiently given or made if delivered or sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as it appears
upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, prior to the Separation Time, on
the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Stock. Any notice which
is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not
the holder receives the notice. Failure to give a notice pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any action taken
hereunder.
5.10 Suspension of Exercisability. To the extent that the Company
determines in good faith that some action will or need be taken pursuant to
Section 3.1 or to comply with federal or state securities laws, the Company may
suspend the exercisability of the Rights for ninety (90) days and any additional
period that may be reasonable in order to take such action or comply with such
laws. In the event of any such suspension, the Company shall issue as promptly
as practicable a public announcement stating that the exercisability or
exchangeability of the Rights has been temporarily suspended. Notice thereof
pursuant to Section 5.9 shall not be required.
5.11 Costs of Enforcement. The Company agrees that if the Company or
any other Person the securities of which are purchasable upon exercise of Rights
fails to fulfill any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Company or such Person will reimburse the holder of any Rights for the costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by such holder in actions to enforce
such holder's rights pursuant to any Rights or this Agreement.
5.12 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by
or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to
the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
5.13 Benefits of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the
holders of the Rights any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Agreement and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Company, the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
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5.14 Determination and Actions by the Board of Directors, etc. The
Board of Directors (with, where specifically provided for herein, the
concurrence of the Continuing Directors) of the Company shall have the exclusive
power and authority to administer this Agreement and to exercise all rights and
powers specifically granted to the Board (with, where specifically provided for
herein, the concurrence of the Continuing Directors) or to the Company, or as
may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the right and power to (i) interpret the
provisions of this Agreement and (ii) make all determinations deemed necessary
or advisable for the administration of this Agreement. All such actions,
calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of
clause (y) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) which are done or
made by the Board (with, where specifically provided for herein, the concurrence
of the Continuing Directors) in good faith, shall (x) be final, conclusive and
binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all
other parties, and (y) not subject the Board of Directors or the Continuing
Directors of the Company to any liability to the holders of the Rights.
5.15 Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings appear herein for
convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any of the provisions hereof.
5.16 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH RIGHT ISSUED HEREUNDER
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND
FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF SUCH STATE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS TO BE MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN
SUCH STATE.
5.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to
be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument.
5.18 Severability. If any term or provision hereof or the application
thereof to any circumstance shall, in any jurisdiction and to any extent, be
invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be ineffective as to such
jurisdiction to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
invalidating or rendering unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions
hereof or the application of such term or provision to circumstances other than
those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable.
[Signatures on next page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
CHECKMATE ELECTRONICS, INC.
By: /s/ J. Stanford Spence
-----------------------
Name: J. Stanford Spence
Title: Chairman of the Board
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Rights Agent
By: /s/
--------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
---------
(Form of Rights Certificate)
Certificate No. R- Rights
THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OR MANDATORY EXCHANGE, AT THE OPTION
OF THE COMPANY, ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. RIGHTS
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ACQUIRING PERSONS OR AFFILIATES OR ASSOCIATES THEREOF
(AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR TRANSFEREES OF ANY
OF THE FOREGOING WILL BE VOID.
Rights Certificate
CHECKMATE ELECTRONICS, INC.
This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is the
registered holder of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which
entitles the registered holder thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated as of October
13, 1997 (as amended from time to time, the "Rights Agreement"), between
Checkmate Electronics, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and First
Union National Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent," which term shall
include any successor Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement), to purchase from
the Company at any time after the Separation Time (as such term is defined in
the Rights Agreement) and prior to the close of business on October 24, 2007,
one fully paid share of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the "Common Stock"), (subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights
Agreement) at the Exercise Price referred to below, upon presentation and
surrender of this Rights Certificate with the Form of Election to Exercise duly
executed at the principal office of the Rights Agent. The Exercise Price shall
initially be $50.00 per Right and shall be subject to adjustment in certain
events as provided in the Rights Agreement.
In certain circumstances described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
hereby may entitle the registered holder thereof to purchase securities of an
entity other than the Company or securities or assets of the Company other than
Common Stock, all as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal office of the Company and are
available without cost upon written request.
This Rights Certificate, with or without other Rights Certificates, upon
surrender at the office of the Rights Agent designated for such purpose, may be
exchanged for another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates of like tenor
evidencing an aggregate number of Rights equal to the aggregate number of Rights
evidenced by the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates surrendered. If this
Rights Certificate shall be exercised in part, the registered holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon surrender hereof, another Rights Certificate or Rights
Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, each Right evidenced by this
Certificate may be (a) redeemed by the Company under certain circumstances, at
its option, at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right or (b) exchanged by the
Company under certain circumstances, at its option, for one share of Common
Stock per Right (or, in certain cases, other securities or assets of the
Company), subject in each case to adjustment in certain events as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Rights Certificate, as such, shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any securities
which may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything
contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the
holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
shareholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
shareholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive
dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Rights evidenced by
this Rights Certificate shall have been exercised or exchanged as provided in
the Rights Agreement.
This Rights Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company and its
corporate seal.
Date:
------------
ATTEST: CHECKMATE ELECTRONICS, INC.
By:
- ------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Secretary
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Countersigned:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
By:
----------------------------------
Authorized Signature
- 3 -
[Form of Reverse Side of Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
------------------
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer this Rights Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
______________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Rights Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein,
and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ______________________
Attorney, to transfer the within Rights Certificate on the books of the within-
named Company, with full power of substitution.
Dated:_________________, 19___.
Signature Guaranteed:
---------------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written
upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatsoever)
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) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially
Owned by an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in
the Rights Agreement).
----------------------------------------
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
------
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
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[To be attached to each Rights Certificate]
FORM OF ELECTION TO EXERCISE
----------------------------
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise the Rights Certificate.)
TO: CHECKMATE ELECTRONICS, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise _________________ whole
Rights represented by the attached Rights Certificate to purchase the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that
certificates for such shares be issued in the name of:
---------------------------------
Address:
---------------------------------
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------------------
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:
---------------------------------
Address:
---------------------------------
Social Security or other Taxpayer
Identification Number:
---------------------------------
Dated:______________, 19___
Signature Guaranteed: ---------------------------------------------
Signature
(Signature must correspond to name as written
upon the face of this Rights Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or
enlargement or any change whatsoever)
Signatures must-be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange's member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(To be completed if true)
The undersigned hereby represents, for the benefit of all holders of Rights and
shares of Common Stock, that the Rights evidenced by this Rights Certificate are
not, and, to the
knowledge of the undersigned, have never been, Beneficially Owned by an
Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
---------------------------
Signature
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTICE
------
In the event the certification set forth above is not completed in connection
with a purported assignment, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the
Rights evidenced by the enclosed Rights Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) or a
transferee of any of the foregoing and accordingly will deem the Rights
evidenced by such Rights Certificate to be void and not transferable or
exercisable.
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