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LABARGE, INC.
and
UMB BANK, N.A.,
as Rights Agent
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 8, 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Section 1. Certain Definitions.............................................................................1
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent.....................................................................4
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.....................................................................4
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates......................................................................5
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration...............................................................6
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates....................................................6
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of Rights...................................7
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates..............................................8
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares................................................................8
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date....................................................................9
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of Rights..............................9
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.....................................15
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power...........................15
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares........................................................16
Section 15. Rights of Action...............................................................................17
Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders.....................................................................17
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder..............................................18
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent....................................................................18
Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent......................................18
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent.........................................................................19
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent.........................................................................21
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates.............................................................22
Section 23. Redemption.....................................................................................22
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
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Section 24. Exchange.......................................................................................23
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.......................................................................24
Section 26. Notices........................................................................................25
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments.....................................................................25
Section 28. Successors.....................................................................................26
Section 29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement..............................................................26
Section 30. Severability...................................................................................26
Section 31. Governing Law..................................................................................26
Section 32. Counterparts...................................................................................26
Section 33. Descriptive Headings...........................................................................27
Exhibit A - Form of Certificate of Designations
Exhibit B - Form of Rights Certificate
Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares
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RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 8, 2001, between LABARGE, INC.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and UMB BANK, N.A., as rights agent (the
"Rights Agent").
The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a
dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each Common Share
of the Company outstanding on November 19, 2001 (the "Record Date"), each Right
representing the right to purchase one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and has further
authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common
Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of
the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the Expiration Date.
Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
herein set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Rights Agreement,
the following terms have the meanings indicated:
(a) "Acquiring Person" shall mean any Person who or which,
together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding, but shall
not include (i) the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any entity holding
Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, (ii) any person who
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding as the result of a reduction in the outstanding Common Shares
resulting from acquisition of Common Shares by the Company approved by a
majority of the Directors, unless and until such Person becomes the Beneficial
Owner of any additional Common Shares, (iii) any person who becomes the
Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding pursuant
to any action or transaction or series of related actions or transactions
approved by a majority of the Directors, unless and until such Person becomes
the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, (iv) any person who
becomes the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then
outstanding as a result of inheritance, unless and until such person becomes the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares, (v) Pierre E. LaBarge, Jr. or
(vi) Craig E. LaBarge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Person who or which
the Board of Directors of the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the
Directors) determines, in good faith, became an Acquiring Person inadvertently,
if such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common
Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, shall be
deemed not to be and never to have been an Acquiring Person.
(b) "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.
(c) "AMEX" shall mean the American Stock Exchange.
(d) A Person shall be deemed the "Beneficial Owner" of and
shall be deemed to "Beneficially Own" any securities:
(i) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act;
(ii) which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is
exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any
agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with
and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide
public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights), warrants or options, or
otherwise, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial
Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender 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 or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be
deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the
agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely
from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public
proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is
not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any
comparable or successor report); or
(iii) which are beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person's
Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other
than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group
members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the
proviso to Section 1(c)(ii)(B)) or disposing of any securities of the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to
the contrary, the phrase "then outstanding," when used with reference to a
Person's Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the
number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number
of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which such Person
would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.
(e) "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or
the State of Missouri are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
(f) "Close of Business" on any given date shall mean 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on such date, provided, however, that, if such date is
not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the next
succeeding Business Day.
(g) "Common Shares" shall mean the shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company, except that "Common Shares" when used with
reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or
equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such
other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which
ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.
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(h) "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereof.
(i) "Current per share market price" shall have the meaning
set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.
(j) "Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Directors
of the Company.
(k) "Distribution Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(l) "Equivalent preferred shares" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 11(b) hereof.
(m) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
(n) "Exchange Ratio" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 24(a)hereof.
(o) "Expiration Date" shall mean the Close of Business on
November 7, 2011.
(p) "Nasdaq" shall mean the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System.
(q) "Person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or
otherwise) of such entity.
(r) "Preferred Shares" shall mean shares of Series C Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company having the rights
and preferences set forth in the Form of Certificate of Amendment attached to
this Rights Agreement as Exhibit A.
(s) "Purchase Price" shall initially be $21.00 for each one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share purchasable pursuant to the exercise of a
Right, and shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in
Section 11 or 13 hereof.
(t) "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
second paragraph hereof.
(u) "Redemption Date" shall mean the time at which the Rights
are redeemed as provided in Section 23 hereof.
(v) "Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 23(a) hereof.
(w) "Right" shall have the meaning set forth in the second
paragraph hereof.
(x) "Right Certificate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a) hereof.
(y) "Rights Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in the
preamble hereof.
(z) "Security" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
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(aa) "Stock Acquisition Date" shall mean the first date of
public announcement (including, without limitation, by a filing under the
Exchange Act) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has
become such or such earlier date as a majority of the Directors shall become
aware of the existence of an Acquiring Person.
(bb) "Subsidiary" of any Person shall mean any corporation or
other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity
securities or equity interest is owned or otherwise controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person.
(cc) "Trading Day" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11(d)(i) hereof.
Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent. The Company hereby appoints the
Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company and the holders of the Rights (who,
in accordance with Section 3 hereof, shall prior to the Distribution Date also
be the holders of the Common Shares) in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may
from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or
desirable.
Section 3. Issue of Right Certificates.
(a) Until the Close of Business on the day (or such later date
as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors, upon approval by a
majority of the Directors) which is the earlier of (i) the tenth day after the
Stock Acquisition Date or (ii) the tenth day after the date of the commencement
by any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any
employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any
entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) of,
or of the first public announcement of the intention of any Person (other than
the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the
Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan) to commence, a tender or exchange
offer the consummation of which would result in any Person becoming an Acquiring
Person (including any such date which is after the date of this Rights Agreement
and prior to the issuance of the Rights; the earlier of such dates being herein
referred to as the "Distribution Date"), (x) the Rights will be evidenced
(subject to the provisions of Section 3(b) hereof) by the certificates for
Common Shares registered in the names of the holders thereof (which certificates
shall also be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right
Certificates and (y) the right to receive Right Certificates will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. As soon as
practicable after the Distribution Date, the Company will prepare and execute,
the Rights Agent will countersign, and the Company will send or cause to be sent
(and the Rights Agent will, if requested and at the expense of the Company,
send) by first-class, insured, postage-prepaid mail, to each record holder of
Common Shares as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the
address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate,
in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (a "Right Certificate"),
evidencing one Right for each Common Share so held. As of the Distribution Date,
the Rights will be evidenced solely by such Right Certificates. References in
this Agreement to certificates for common shares shall include certificates for
common shares as well as book-entry notations of ownership in the record book of
the Company's transfer agent whether or not represented by certificates.
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(b) The Company will make available, as promptly as
practicable following the Record Date, a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred
Shares, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, to any holder of Rights
who may so request from time to time prior to the Expiration Date. With respect
to certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of the Record Date, until the
Distribution Date, the Rights will be evidenced by such certificates and the
registered holders of the Common Shares shall also be the registered holders of
the associated Rights. Until the Distribution Date (or the earlier of the
Redemption Date or the Expiration Date), the surrender for transfer of any
certificate for Common Shares in respect of which Rights have been issued shall
also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Shares.
(c) Rights shall be issued in respect of all Common Shares
which are issued (whether originally issued or from the Company's treasury)
after the Record Date but prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the
Redemption Date or the Expiration Date. Certificates representing such Common
Shares shall bear the following legend:
THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES
THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET
FORTH IN A RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN LABARGE,
INC. (THE "COMPANY") AND THE RIGHTS AGENT
THEREUNDER (THE "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), THE TERMS
OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF THE COMPANY. UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS WILL BE EVIDENCED BY
SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND WILL NO LONGER BE
EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE COMPANY WILL
MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY
OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER
RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS ISSUED TO ANY PERSON
WHO BECOMES AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN
THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT), INCLUDING SUCH RIGHTS
HELD BY A SUBSEQUENT HOLDER, MAY BECOME NULL
AND VOID.
With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend,
until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares
represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone,
and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. In
the event that the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares after the
Record Date but prior to the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such
Common Shares shall be deemed canceled and retired so that the Company shall not
be entitled to exercise any Rights associated with the Common Shares which are
no longer outstanding.
Section 4. Form of Right Certificates. The Right Certificates (and the
forms of election to purchase Preferred Shares and of assignment to be printed
on the reverse thereof)
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shall be substantially the same as Exhibit B hereto and may have such marks of
identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements
printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Rights Agreement, or as may be required to comply
with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or
with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Rights may from
time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to the provisions of
Sections 11 and 22 hereof, the Right Certificates shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase such number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as
shall be set forth therein at the price per one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share set forth therein, but the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred
Share and the Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as provided herein.
Section 5. Countersignature and Registration.
(a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any of its Vice
Presidents, or its Treasurer, either manually or by facsimile signature and
shall be attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be
countersigned 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 Right Certificates shall
cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights
Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates,
nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered
by the Company with the same force and effect as though the Person who signed
such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and
any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any Person who,
at the actual date of the execution of such Right Certificate, shall be a proper
officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate although at the date of
the execution of this Rights Agreement any such Person was not such an officer.
(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent will
keep or cause to be kept, at its principal office, books for registration and
transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the
names and addresses of the respective holders of the Right Certificates, the
number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the Right Certificates and the
date of each of the Right Certificates.
Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right
Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof, at any
time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and at or prior to
the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Expiration
Date, any Right Certificate or Right Certificates (other than Right Certificates
representing Rights that have become void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
or that have been exchanged pursuant to Section 24 hereof) may be transferred,
split up, combined or exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right
Certificates entitling the registered holder to purchase a like number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as the Right Certificate or Right
Certificates surrendered then entitled such holder to purchase. Any registered
holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Right Certificate
or
6
Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights
Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificate or Right Certificates to
be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the principal office of the
Rights Agent. Thereupon the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the
Person entitled thereto a Right Certificate or Right Certificates, as the case
may be, as so requested. The Company or Rights Agent may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right
Certificates.
(b) Upon receipt by the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right
Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or
security reasonably satisfactory to them, and, at the Company's request,
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 Right Certificate if mutilated, the Rights Agent will make and deliver a new
Right Certificate of like tenor for delivery to the registered holder in lieu of
the Right Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated.
Section 7. Exercise of Rights; Purchase Price; Expiration Date of
Rights.
(a) The registered holder of any Right Certificate may
exercise the Rights evidenced thereby (except as otherwise provided in Sections
11, 23 and 24 hereof), in whole or in part, at any time after the Distribution
Date, upon surrender of the Right Certificate, with the form of election to
purchase on the reverse side thereof duly executed, to the Rights Agent at the
principal office of the Rights Agent, together with payment of the Purchase
Price for each one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share as to which the Rights
are exercised, at or prior to the earliest of (i) the Expiration Date, (ii) the
Redemption Date or (iii) the time at which such Rights are exchanged as provided
in Section 24 hereof.
(b) The Purchase Price shall be payable in lawful money of the
United States of America in accordance with paragraph (c) below.
(c) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing
exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase duly executed,
accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price for the shares to be purchased and
an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder
of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified
check, cashier's check, money order or wire transfer payable to the order of the
Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) (A) requisition from any
transfer agent of the Preferred Shares certificates for the number of Preferred
Shares to be purchased and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes any such
transfer agent to comply with all such requests, or (B) requisition from the
depositary agent depositary receipts representing such number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share as are to be purchased (in which case
certificates for the Preferred Shares represented by such receipts shall be
deposited by the transfer agent of the Preferred Shares with such depositary
agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary agent to comply with such
request; (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash
to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional shares in accordance with Section
14 hereof; (iii) promptly after receipt of such certificates or depositary
receipts, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered
holder of such Right Certificate, registered in
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such name or names as may be designated by such holder; and (iv) when
appropriate, after receipt, promptly deliver such cash to or upon the order of
the registered holder of such Right Certificate. The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to insure that the provisions of this Section are complied
with, but shall have no liability to any holder of a Rights Certificate or other
Person as a result of its failure to make any determination with respect to an
Acquiring Person or its Affiliates, Associates or transferees thereof.
(d) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate
shall exercise less than all the Rights evidenced thereby, a new Right
Certificate evidencing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised
shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right
Certificate or to his duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of
Section 14 hereof.
Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates. All
Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up,
combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its
agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form,
or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right
Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by
any of the provisions of this Rights Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so
cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the
Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall destroy
such cancelled Right Certificates in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations, and, in such case, shall deliver a certificate of destruction
thereof to the Company.
Section 9. Availability of Preferred Shares.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be
reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued Preferred Shares
or any Preferred Shares held in its treasury, the number of Preferred Shares
that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights
in accordance with Section 7. The Company covenants and agrees that it will take
all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all securities delivered upon
exercise of Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such
securities (subject to payment of the Purchase Price), be duly and validly
authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) The Company further covenants and agrees that it will pay
when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges
which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right
Certificates or of any Preferred Shares upon the exercise of Rights. The Company
shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer or delivery of Right Certificates to a Person other
than, or the issuance or delivery of certificates or depositary receipts for the
Preferred Shares in a name other than that of, the registered holder of the
Right Certificate evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or to
deliver any certificates or depositary receipts for Preferred Shares upon the
exercise of any Rights until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax
being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender)
or until it has been established to the Company's reasonable satisfaction that
no such tax is due.
8
(c) The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that any
securities issued pursuant hereto are issued in compliance with all applicable
laws.
(d) The Company agrees to provide to the Rights Agent,
immediately following the later to occur of an event described in Section
11(a)(i)(B) or Section 13 hereof or the Redemption Date, an opinion of counsel
acceptable to the Rights Agent that the Common and Preferred Shares underlying
the Rights have been or are being properly registered under the Securities Act
and all securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states, as applicable, or
in the alternative, the Rights are not subject to registration under the
Securities Act and/or any securities or "blue sky" laws of the various states.
Section 10. Preferred Shares Record Date. Each Person in whose name any
certificate for Preferred Shares is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the Preferred
Shares represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date
upon which the Right Certificate evidencing such Rights was duly surrendered and
payment of the Purchase Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made;
provided, however, that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon
which the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are closed, such Person
shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such shares on, and such
certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the
Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company are open. Prior to the exercise
of the Rights evidenced thereby, the holder of a Right Certificate shall not be
entitled to any rights of a holder of Preferred Shares for which the Rights
shall be exercisable, including, without limitation, the right to vote, to
receive dividends or other distributions or to exercise any preemptive rights,
and shall not be entitled to receive any notice of any proceedings of the
Company, except as provided herein.
Section 11. Adjustment of Purchase Price, Number of Shares or Number of
Rights. The Purchase Price, the number of Preferred Shares covered by each Right
and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in this Section 11.
(a) (i) In the event the Company shall at any time after the
date of this Rights Agreement (A) declare a dividend on the Preferred Shares
payable in Preferred Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C)
combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred
Shares or (D) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the
Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving
corporation), except as otherwise provided in this Section 11(a), the Purchase
Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or of the
effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification, and the
number and kind of shares of capital stock issuable on such date, shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised after such
time shall be entitled to receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of
capital stock which, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such
date and at a time when the Preferred Shares transfer books of the Company were
open, he would have owned upon such exercise and been entitled to receive by
virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification.
(ii) Subject to Section 24 of this Rights Agreement, in the
event any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right shall
thereafter have a right to
9
receive, upon exercise thereof at a price equal to the then current Purchase
Price multiplied by the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for
which a Right is then exercisable, in accordance with the terms of this Rights
Agreement and in lieu of Preferred Shares, such number of Common Shares as shall
equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by
the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then
exercisable and dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share
market price of the Company's Common Shares (determined pursuant to Section
11(d) hereof) on the date of the occurrence of such event. In the event that any
Person shall become an Acquiring Person and the Rights shall then be
outstanding, the Company shall not take any action which would eliminate or
diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and
after the time that any person becomes an Acquiring Person, any Rights that are
or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by any Acquiring Person (or any Associate
or Affiliate of such Acquiring Person) shall be void and any holder of such
Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights under any
provision of this Rights Agreement. No Right Certificate shall be issued
pursuant to Section 3 that represents Rights Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring
Person whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any
Associate or Affiliate thereof; no Right Certificate shall be issued at any time
upon the transfer of any Rights to an Acquiring Person whose Rights would be
void pursuant to the preceding sentence or any Associate or Affiliate thereof or
to any nominee of such Acquiring Person, Associate or Affiliate; and any Right
Certificate delivered to the Rights Agent for transfer to an Acquiring Person
whose Rights would be void pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be canceled.
(iii) If there shall not be sufficient Common Shares
issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit the exercise in
full of the Rights in accordance with the foregoing subparagraph (ii), the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. If the Company shall,
after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be necessary
to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall substitute, for
each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exercise of a Right, a
number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or a security with substantially
similar rights, privileges, preferences, voting power and economic rights) such
that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share (or such other
security) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the current per
share market price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of such
Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or other security).
(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the
issuance of rights, options or warrants to all holders of Preferred Shares
entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 calendar days after such record
date) to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same
rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares ("equivalent
preferred shares")) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or
equivalent preferred shares at a price per Preferred Share or equivalent
preferred share (or having a conversion price per share, if a security
convertible into Preferred Shares or equivalent preferred shares) less than the
then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such record date,
the Purchase Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by
multiplying the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such record date
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number
10
of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred
Shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred
Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares so to be offered (and/or the aggregate
initial conversion price of the convertible securities so to be offered) would
purchase at such current market price and the denominator of which shall be the
number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of
additional Preferred Shares and/or equivalent preferred shares to be offered for
subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so to be
offered are initially convertible); 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. In case such subscription price may be paid in a
consideration part or all of which shall be in a form other than cash, the value
of such consideration shall be as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the Directors),
whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the Rights
Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and the holders of the Rights.
Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be
deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such 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) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such
distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the
Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) of evidences of indebtedness
or assets (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend or a dividend payable in
Preferred Shares) or subscription rights or warrants (excluding those referred
to in Section 11(b) hereof), the Purchase Price to be in effect after such
record date shall be determined by multiplying the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the then current per share market price of the Preferred Shares on such
record date, less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors of the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the
Directors), whose determination shall be described in a statement filed with the
Rights Agent and shall be binding on the Rights Agent and holders of the Rights)
of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so to be distributed
or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one Preferred Share and
the denominator of which shall be such current per share market price of the
Preferred Shares; 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 to be issued 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, the
"current per share market price" of any security (a "Security" for the purpose
of this Section 11(d)(i)) on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the
daily closing prices per share of such Security for the 30 consecutive Trading
Days immediately prior to such date; provided, however, that in the event that
the current per share market price of the Security is determined during a
period following the announcement by the issuer of such Security of (A) a
dividend or distribution on
11
such Security payable in shares of such Security or securities convertible into
such shares, or (B) any subdivision, combination or reclassification of such
Security and prior to the expiration of 30 Trading Days after the ex-dividend
date for such dividend or distribution, or the record date for such subdivision,
combination or reclassification, then, and in each such case, the current per
share market price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the current market
price per share equivalent of such Security. The closing price for each day
shall be the last sale price, 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 AMEX or,
if the Security is not listed or admitted to trading on the AMEX, as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Security is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq or such other system then in
use, or, if on any such date the Security is not quoted by any such
organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a
professional market maker making a market in the Security selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the Directors).
The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national
securities exchange on which the Security is listed or admitted to trading is
open for the transaction of business or, if the Security is not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.
(ii) For the purpose of any computation hereunder,
the "current per share market price" of the Preferred Shares shall be determined
in accordance with the method set forth in Section 11(d)(i). If the Preferred
Shares are not publicly traded, the "current per share market price" of the
Preferred Shares shall be conclusively deemed to be the current per share market
price of the Common Shares as determined pursuant to Section 11(d)(i)
(appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar
transaction occurring after the date hereof), multiplied by one thousand. If
neither the Common Shares nor the Preferred Shares are publicly held or so
listed or traded, "current per share market price" shall mean the fair value per
share as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (upon
the approval of a majority of the Directors), whose determination shall be
described in a statement filed with the Rights Agent.
(e) No adjustment in the Purchase Price shall be required
unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in
the Purchase Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of
this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and
taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this
Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-thousandth of
a Preferred Share or one ten-thousandth of any other share or security as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 11(e), any
adjustment required by this Section 11 shall be made no later than the earlier
of (i) three years from the date of the transaction which requires such
adjustment or (ii) the date of the expiration of the right to exercise any
Rights.
(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section
11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right thereafter exercised shall become entitled
to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than Preferred
Shares, thereafter the number of such other shares so
12
receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time
to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions with respect to the Preferred Shares contained in Section 11(a)
through (c), inclusive, and the provisions of Sections 7, 9, 10 and 13 with
respect to the Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other
shares.
(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to
any adjustment made to the Purchase Price hereunder shall evidence the right to
purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the
Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as
provided in Section 11(i), upon each adjustment of the Purchase Price as a
result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c), each Right
outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter
evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Purchase Price, that number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one
thousandth of a Preferred Share) obtained by (A) multiplying (x) the number of
one one-thousandths of a share covered by a Right immediately prior to this
adjustment by (y) the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such
adjustment of the Purchase Price and (B) dividing the product so obtained by the
Purchase Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Purchase
Price.
(i) The Company may elect on or after the date of any
adjustment of the Purchase Price to adjust the number of Rights in substitution
for any adjustment in the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share
purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after
such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of
one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such
adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights
(calculated to the nearest one 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. This record date may be the date
on which the Purchase Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if the Right
Certificates have been issued, shall be at least 10 days later than the date of
the public announcement. If Right Certificates have been issued, upon each
adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the Company
shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record
of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates evidencing, subject
to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be
entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Company, shall
cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and
replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of
adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Company, new Right
Certificates evidencing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled
after such adjustment. Right Certificates so to be distributed shall be issued,
executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein and shall be
registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the
record date specified in the public announcement.
13
(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Purchase
Price or the number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share issuable upon
the exercise of the Rights, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter
issued may continue to express the Purchase Price and the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share which were expressed in the initial Right
Certificates issued hereunder.
(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment
reducing the Purchase Price of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of
the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action which may, in the
opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares at such adjusted
Purchase Price.
(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an
adjustment in the Purchase Price be made effective as of a record date for a
specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event the issuing to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of
the Preferred Shares and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if
any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the Preferred Shares and other
capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise
on the basis of the Purchase Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided,
however, that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such holder's right to receive such additional
shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.
(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the
Purchase Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this
Section 11, as and to the extent that it, in its sole discretion, shall
determine to be advisable in order that any consolidation or subdivision of the
Preferred Shares, issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than
the current market price, issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or
securities which by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for
Preferred Shares, dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or
issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to hereinabove in Section
11(b), hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall
not be taxable to such stockholders.
(n) In the event that at any time after the date of this
Rights Agreement and prior to the Distribution Date, the Company shall (i)
declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or
(ii) effect a subdivision, combination or consolidation of the Common Shares (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of dividends in Common Shares)
into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, then in any such case (A) the
number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share purchasable after such event
upon proper exercise of each Right shall be determined by multiplying the number
of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share so purchasable immediately prior to
such event by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event, and (B) each
Common Share outstanding immediately after such event shall have issued with
respect to it that number of Rights which each Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to such event had issued with respect to it. The adjustments
provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be made successively whenever such a
dividend is declared or paid or such a subdivision, combination or consolidation
is effected.
14
Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Purchase Price or Number of Shares.
Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Sections 11 or 13 hereof, the
Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment,
and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) file with
the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the Common Shares or the
Preferred Shares a copy of such certificate and (c) if a Distribution Date has
occurred, mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of a Right Certificate in
accordance with Section 25 hereof. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in
relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained and
shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall
it be deemed to have knowledge of such adjustment unless and until it shall have
received such certificate.
Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or
Earning Power. Except for any transaction approved prior to the Distribution
Date by the Board of Directors (upon approval by a majority of the Directors),
in the event, directly or indirectly, at any time after a Person has become an
Acquiring Person, (a) the Company shall consolidate with, or merge with and
into, any other Person, (b) any Person shall consolidate with the Company, or
merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or
surviving corporation of such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or
part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other
securities of any other Person (or the Company) or cash or any other property or
(c) the Company shall sell or otherwise transfer (or one or more of its
Subsidiaries shall sell or otherwise transfer), in one or more transactions,
assets or earning power aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any other Person other
than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, then, and in
each such case, proper provision shall be made so that:
(i) each holder of a Right (except as otherwise provided
herein) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at
a price equal to the then current Purchase Price multiplied by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable, in
accordance with the terms of this Rights Agreement and in lieu of Preferred
Shares, such number of Common Shares of such other Person (including the Company
as successor thereto or as the surviving corporation) as shall equal the result
obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Purchase Price by the number of one
one-thousandths of a Preferred Share for which a Right is then exercisable and
dividing that product by (B) 50% of the then current per share market price of
the Common Shares of such other Person (determined pursuant to Section 11(d)
hereof) on the date of consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer;
(ii) the issuer of such Common Shares shall thereafter be
liable for, and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or
transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Rights
Agreement;
(iii) the term "Company" shall thereafter be deemed to refer
to such issuer; and
(iv) such issuer shall take such steps (including, but not
limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in
accordance with Section 9 hereof) in
15
connection with such consummation as may be necessary to assure that the
provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may
be, in relation to the Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of
the Rights.
The Company shall not consummate any such consolidation, merger, sale
or transfer unless prior thereto the Company and such issuer shall have executed
and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement so providing. The
Company shall not enter into any transaction of the kind referred to in this
Section 13 if at the time of such transaction there are any rights, warrants,
instruments or securities outstanding or any agreements or arrangements which,
as a result of the consummation of such transaction, would eliminate or
substantially diminish the benefits intended to be afforded by the Rights. The
provisions of this Section 13 shall similarly apply to successive mergers or
consolidations or sales or other transfers.
Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares.
(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Rights or to distribute Right Certificates which evidence fractional Rights. In
lieu of such fractional Rights, there shall be paid to the registered holders of
the Right Certificates with regard to which such fractional Rights would
otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the
current market value of a whole Right. For the purposes of this Section 14(a),
the current market value of a whole Right shall be the closing price of the
Rights for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which such
fractional Rights would have been otherwise issuable. The closing price for any
day shall be the last sale price, 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 AMEX or,
if the Rights are not listed or admitted to trading on the AMEX, as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the
Rights are listed or admitted to trading or, if the Rights are not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price
or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the
over-the-counter market, as reported by Nasdaq or such other system then in use
or, if on any such date the Rights are not quoted by any such organization, the
average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional
market maker making a market in the Rights selected by the Board of Directors of
the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the Directors). If on any such
date no such market maker is making a market in the Rights, the fair value of
the Rights on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of
the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the Directors) shall be used.
(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Preferred Shares (other than fractions which are integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of the Rights or to
distribute certificates which evidence fractional Preferred Shares (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be
evidenced by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between
the Company and a depositary selected by it; provided that such agreement shall
provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights,
privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as Beneficial Owners of
the Preferred
16
Shares represented by such depositary receipts. In lieu of fractional Preferred
Shares that are not integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred
Share, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates at
the time such Rights are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of one Preferred Share. For the
purposes of this Section 14(b), the current market value of a Preferred Share
shall be the closing price of a Preferred Share (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of such exercise.
(c) The holder of a Right by the acceptance of the Right
expressly waives his right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional
shares upon exercise of a Right (except as expressly provided above).
Section 15. Rights of Action. All rights of action in respect of this
Rights Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under
Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right
Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the registered holders of the
Common Shares); and any registered holder of any Right Certificate (or, prior to
the Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), without the consent of the Rights
Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate (or, prior to the
Distribution Date, of the Common Shares), may, in his own behalf and for his own
benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding
against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, his right to
exercise the Rights evidenced by such Right Certificate in the manner provided
in such Right Certificate and in this Rights 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 Rights 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 Rights
Agreement.
Section 16. Agreement of Right 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 will be
transferable only in connection with the transfer of the Common Shares;
(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates are
transferable only on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at
the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a
proper instrument of transfer; and
(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the
Person in whose name the Right Certificate (or, prior to the Distribution Date,
the associated Common Shares certificate) is registered on the registration
books of the Company as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights evidenced
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right
Certificate or the associated Common Shares certificate made by anyone other
than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither
the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.
17
Section 17. Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. No
holder, as such, of any Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or any
other securities of the Company which may at any time be issuable on the
exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein
or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right
Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any
right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to
stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any
corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting
stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends
or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by
such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent.
(a) 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 Rights
Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company
also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted
by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this
Rights Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any
claim of liability in the premises. The costs and expenses of enforcing this
right of indemnification shall also be paid by the Company. The indemnification
provided for hereunder shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the
termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and 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 Rights
Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for the
Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities of the Company,
instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit,
letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement, or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where
necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper Person or Persons, or
otherwise upon the advice of counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, 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), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of
such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.
Section 19. 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 shall be a
18
party, or any corporation succeeding to the stock transfer or corporate trust
powers of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor
to the Rights Agent under this Rights 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 21 hereof. In case at the time such
successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Rights
Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not
delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the
predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned;
and, in case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right
Certificates in its name as the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases
such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right
Certificates and in this Rights Agreement.
(b) In case at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be
changed and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been
countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature
under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and in
case at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been
countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either
in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right
Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Right Certificates and in
this Rights Agreement.
Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent undertakes the
duties and obligations imposed by this Rights Agreement upon the following terms
and conditions, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this
Agreement against the Rights Agent, by all of which the Company and the holders
of Right Certificates, by their acceptance thereof, shall be bound:
(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, the
Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the
Company), and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or
omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such opinion.
(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this
Rights Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any
fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking 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 any one of the
Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the
Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
in good faith by it under the provisions of this Rights Agreement in reliance
upon such certificate.
(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company
and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct.
(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of
any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Rights Agreement or
in the Right Certificates
19
(except its countersignature thereof) or be required to verify the same, but all
such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the
Company only.
(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in
respect of the validity of this Rights Agreement or the execution and delivery
hereof (except the due execution hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of
the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature
thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any
covenant or condition contained in this Rights Agreement or in any Right
Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of
the Rights (including the Rights becoming void pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii)
hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner,
method or amount thereof) provided for in Section 3, 11, 13, 23 or 24, or the
ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or
adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights evidenced by Right
Certificates after actual notice that such change or adjustment is required);
nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or
warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares to be
issued pursuant to this Rights Agreement or any Right Certificate or as to
whether any Preferred Shares will, when issued, be validly authorized and
issued, 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 Rights Agreement.
(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to
accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from
any one of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers 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 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 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 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 ten 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 subject to the proposed action or omission and/or specifying the
action to be taken or omitted.
(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or
employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other
securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in
which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the
Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it
20
were not Rights Agent under this Rights 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 shall not be
answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any
such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such
act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in
the selection and continued employment thereof.
(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights
Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability
in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its
rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such
funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not
reasonably assured to it.
(k) The Rights Agent shall 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 shall be specifically notified in writing by
the Company of such fact, event or determination.
(l) If, with respect to any Right Certificate surrendered to
the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form
of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been
completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to
such requested exercise of transfer without receiving written instructions of
the Company.
(m) The Rights Agent shall 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 shall be specifically notified in writing by
the Company of such fact, event or determination, and all notices shall be
effective if given in accordance with Section 25 hereof, and in the absence of
such notice the Rights Agent may conclusively assume that no such event or
condition exists.
Section 21. Change of Rights Agent. The Rights Agent or any successor
Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Rights
Agreement upon 30 days' notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each
transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or
certified mail, and, at the expense of the Company, to the holders of the Right
Certificates. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights
Agent upon 30 days' notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor
Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common
Shares or Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders
of the Right Certificates. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or
shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a
successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such
appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or
after it has been notified in writing of
21
such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or
by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his
Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the registered holder of
any Right Certificate or the retiring Rights Agent 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
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or
of any state of the United States, in good standing, which is (i) authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers 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 million or (ii) affiliated with a corporation described
in clause (i) 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 and the
duties and obligations of the retiring Rights Agent shall cease and terminate;
but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor
Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and
deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the
purpose. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company
shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each
transfer agent of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, and mail a notice
thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure
to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect
therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal
of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the
case may be.
Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates. Notwithstanding any of
the provisions of this Rights Agreement or of the Rights to the contrary, the
Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates evidencing Rights in
such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (upon the
approval of a majority of the Directors) to reflect any adjustment or change in
the Purchase Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities
or property purchasable under the Right Certificates made in accordance with the
provisions of this Rights Agreement.
Section 23. Redemption.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company, at its option, at
any time prior to the Close of Business on the tenth day following the Stock
Acquisition Date, may redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding
Rights at a redemption price of $.001 per Right, appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after
the date hereof (such redemption price being hereinafter referred to as the
"Redemption Price"), provided, however, that during the time period relating to
when the Rights may be redeemed, the Board of Directors of the Company may
extend the time during which the Rights may be redeemed to be at any time as may
be determined by the Board of Directors upon approval of a majority of the
Directors. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary,
the Rights shall not be exercisable after the first occurrence of the event
described in Section 11(a)(ii) until such time as the Company's right of
redemption hereunder has expired. The redemption of the Rights by the Board of
Directors of the Company may be made effective at such time, on such basis and
with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may establish. The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption
Price
22
in cash, Common Shares (based on the current market price at the time of
redemption) or any other form of consideration deemed appropriate by the Board
of Directors.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of
this Section 23, and without any further action and without any notice, the
right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right thereafter of the
holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. The Company shall
promptly give public notice of any such redemption; provided, however, that the
failure to give, or any defect in, any such notice shall not affect the validity
of such redemption. Within 14 days after such action of the Board of Directors
of the Company ordering the redemption of the Rights, the Company shall mail a
notice of redemption to all the holders of the then outstanding Rights at their
last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or,
prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for
the Common Shares. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice. Each such
notice of redemption will state the method by which the payment of the
Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or
Associates may redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights at any time in
any manner other than that specifically set forth in this Section 23 or in
Section 24 hereof, and other than in connection with the purchase of Common
Shares prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 24. Exchange.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company (upon the approval
of a majority of the Directors) may, at its option, at any time after any Person
becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void
pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect
any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date
hereof (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Ratio"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company
shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person
(other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit
plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares
for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and
Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the
Common Shares then outstanding.
(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of
the Company (upon the approval of a majority of the Directors) ordering the
exchange of any Rights pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 24 and without
any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise such Rights
shall terminate and the only right thereafter of a holder of such Rights shall
be to receive that number of Common Shares equal to the number of such Rights
held by such holder multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The Company shall promptly
give public notice of any such exchange; provided, however, that the failure to
give, or any defect in, such notice shall not affect the validity of such
exchange. The Company promptly shall mail a notice of any such exchange to all
of the holders of such Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the
registry books of the Rights Agent. Any notice which is mailed in the manner
herein
23
provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives the notice.
Each such notice of exchange will state the method by which the exchange of the
Common Shares for Rights will be effected and, in the event of any partial
exchange, the number of Rights which will be exchanged. Any partial exchange
shall be effected pro rata based on the number of Rights (other than Rights
which have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof)
held by each holder of Rights.
(c) In the event that there shall not be sufficient Common
Shares issued but not outstanding or authorized but unissued to permit any
exchange of Rights as contemplated in accordance with this Section 24, the
Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to authorize additional
Common Shares for issuance upon exchange of the Rights. In the event the Company
shall, after good faith effort, be unable to take all such action as may be
necessary to authorize such additional Common Shares, the Company shall
substitute, for each Common Share that would otherwise be issuable upon exchange
of a Right, a number of Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or a security with
substantially similar rights, privileges, preferences, voting power and economic
rights) such that the current per share market price of one Preferred Share (or
other such security) multiplied by such number or fraction is equal to the
current per share market price of one Common Share as of the date of issuance of
such Preferred Shares or fraction thereof (or other such security).
(d) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of
Common Shares or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional Common
Shares. In lieu of such fractional Common Shares, the Company shall pay to the
registered holders of the Right Certificates with regard to which such
fractional Common Shares would otherwise be issuable an amount in cash equal to
the same fraction of the current market value of a whole Common Share. For the
purposes of this paragraph (d), the current market value of a whole Common Share
shall be the closing price of a Common Share (as determined pursuant to the
second sentence of Section 11(d)(i) hereof) for the Trading Day immediately
prior to the date of exchange pursuant to this Section 24.
Section 25. Notice of Certain Events.
(a) In case the Company shall propose (i) to pay any dividend
payable in stock of any class to the holders of its Preferred Shares or to make
any other distribution to the holders of its Preferred Shares (other than a
regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Preferred
Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional
Preferred Shares or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights
or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Preferred Shares (other
than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding Preferred
Shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger into or with, or to effect
any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to
effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of 50% or more
of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a
whole) to, any other Person, (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, or (vi) to declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Shares payable in Common Shares or to effect a subdivision, combination or
consolidation of the Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by
payment of dividends in Common Shares), then, in each such case, the Company
shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26
hereof, a notice of such proposed action,
24
which shall specify the record date for the purposes of such stock dividend, or
distribution of rights or warrants, or the date on which such reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution, or winding up
is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of the
Common Shares and/or Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such
notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii)
above at least 10 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the
Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other
action, at least 10 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action
or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares and/or
Preferred Shares, whichever shall be the earlier.
(b) In case the event set forth in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof
shall occur, then the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to
each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a
notice of the occurrence of such event, which notice shall describe such event
and the consequences of such event to holders of Rights under Section
11(a)(ii)hereof.
Section 26. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Rights
Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right
Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:
LaBarge, Inc.
9900 Clayton Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63105
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand
authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or made by the Company or by the
holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Rights Agent shall be sufficiently
given or made upon receipt if sent by registered or certified mail and shall be
deemed given upon receipt, addressed (until another address is filed in writing
with the Company) as follows:
UMB Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent
2401 Grand Boulevard
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Attn: Corporate Trust Department
Notices or demands authorized by this Rights Agreement to be given or
made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate
shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the
registry books of the Company.
Section 27. Supplements and Amendments. For as long as the Rights are
then redeemable and except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 27,
the Company may in its sole and absolute discretion, and the Rights Agent shall
if the Company so directs,
25
supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement without the approval of any
holders of the Rights. At any time when the Rights are not then redeemable and
except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 27, the Company may, and
the Rights Agent shall if the Company so directs, supplement or amend this
Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of Rights Certificates (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
or (iii) to change or supplement the provisions hereunder in any manner which
the Company may deem necessary or desirable, provided that no such supplement or
amendment pursuant to this clause (iii) shall materially adversely affect the
interest of the holders of Rights Certificates. Upon the delivery of a
certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company and an opinion of counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Rights Agent which state that the proposed
supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the
Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Rights Agreement to the contrary, supplements or
amendments may be made only upon approval by a majority of the Directors.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or
amendment that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this
Agreement will be effective against the Rights Agent without the execution of
such supplement or amendment by the Rights Agent.
Section 28. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Rights
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind
and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.
Section 29. Benefits of this Rights Agreement. Nothing in this Rights
Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person, other than the Company, the
Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to
the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Rights Agreement; but this Rights Agreement shall be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered
holders of the Right Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the
Common Shares).
Section 30. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Rights Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Rights Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
Section 31. Governing Law. This Rights Agreement and each Right
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 to
be made and performed entirely within such State, except for Sections 18, 19,
20, and 21 hereof and relating to the rights, duties and obligations of the
Rights Agent, which shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri
without reference to its choice of law rules.
26
Section 32 Counterparts. This Rights Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and
all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 33. Descriptive Headings. Descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall
not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Rights
Agreement to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first
above written.
LABARGE, INC.
By: /s/ Craig E. LaBarge
--------------------------------------
Name: Craig E. LaBarge
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
UMB BANK, N.A., as Rights Agent
By: /s/ K. Scott Mathews
--------------------------------------
Name: K. Scott Mathews
Title: Vice President
27
EXHIBIT A
FORM
OF
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS BY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS TO THE
DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF THE
SERIES C JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
LABARGE, INC.
LaBarge, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of which was filed in the Office of the Secretary of State of
Delaware on October 31, 1995, and which was amended by Certificate of Amendment
filed on November 13, 1997 (as amended, the "Restated Certificate of
Incorporation"), does by its President and Chief Executive Officer, and its
Secretary hereby certify as follows:
First: That the Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
total number of shares which the Corporation may issue is as follows:
"The total number of shares of common stock which the
corporation shall have authority to issue is 40,000,000. The
par value of each of such shares of common stock is 1 cent.
The total number of shares of preferred stock which the
corporation shall have authority to issue is 2,000,000 shares.
The par value of each such share of preferred stock is $1.00
per share."
Second: That the Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that
the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to provide for the
issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a
certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to
establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such
series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares
of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
Third: That pursuant to the authority so vested in the Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly convened and held on the 8th day of November, 2001,
the Board of Directors adopted the following resolutions:
"RESOLVED, that there be created a Series C Junior Participating
Preferred Stock (the "Series C Preferred Stock"), the number of shares of such
Series C Preferred Stock to be 300,000 which the Corporation may issue, and
which shall have the following powers, preferences and relative, optional,
participating and other special rights and qualifications, limitations,
restrictions and other distinguishing characteristics:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be
designated as "Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the
"Series C Preferred Stock") and the
A-1
number of shares constituting the Series C Preferred Stock shall be
300,000. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by
resolution of the Board of Directors; provided that no decrease shall
reduce the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to a number
less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of
shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options,
rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities
issued by the Corporation convertible into Series C Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and
superior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the
holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, in preference to the
holders of Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the
Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of
funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in
cash on the tenth 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 C
Preferred Stock, in an amount per full 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, 1,000 times the aggregate per
share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 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 C Preferred Stock. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on
the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a
subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares
of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of
shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which
holders of shares of Series C 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 C Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this
Section 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
A-2
$10 per share on the Series C 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 C Preferred Stock from the Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares,
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 C 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 C 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 C Preferred Stock
entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared
thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series C Preferred
Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or
consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares
of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common
Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series C 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, in any other
Certificate of Designations or Certificate of Amendment creating a
series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders
of shares of Series C Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of
Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having
general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by
law, holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no special voting
rights and their consent shall not be
A-3
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 C 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 C Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series
C Preferred Stock;
(ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series C Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series C
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
C 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 C Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series C Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on a parity with the Series C 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 C Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition
thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become
authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued
as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions
and
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restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of
Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations or
Certificate of Amendment creating a series of Preferred Stock or any
similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no
distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution
or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto,
the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have received
the greater of (i) $1.00 per full share, plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not
declared, to the date of such payment, or (ii) an aggregate amount per
share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share
to holders of shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares
of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series C Preferred
Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series C Preferred
Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to
which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation
shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock
payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which
holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) of the preceding
sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to
such event.
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 or changed into
other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any
such case each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall at the same time
be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1,000
times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other
property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which
each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or
combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in
shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of
Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the
preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of
Series C 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.
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Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall
not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series C Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect
to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to
all series of any other class of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation, as heretofore amended, shall not be amended in any manner
which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Series C Preferred Stock so as to affect them
adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock,
voting together as a single class.
Section 11. Expiration of Rights Agreement. In the event that the
Rights Agreement dated as of November 8, 2001 between the Corporation
and UMB Bank, N. A. is terminated or expires prior to the issuance of
any shares of Series C Preferred Stock, all shares of Series C
Preferred Stock shall become authorized but unissued shares of
Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of
Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance
set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or
in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred
Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the statements contained in the foregoing
resolution creating and designating the Series C Preferred Stock and fixing the
number, powers, preferences and relative, optional, participating and other
special rights and qualifications, limitations, restrictions and other
distinguishing characteristics thereof shall be deemed to be included in and be
a part of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to the provisions
of Sections 104 and 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware."
Fourth: That the said resolutions of the Board of Directors, and the
creation and authorization of issuance thereby of the Series C Preferred Stock
and the determination thereby of the provisions applicable to such series as
described in the resolution contained in the Third article hereof, were duly
adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 151 of the general
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
[Signature Page Follows]
A-6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LaBarge, Inc. has caused its corporate seal to be
hereunto affixed and this Certificate to be signed by Craig E. LaBarge, its
President and Chief Executive Officer, this 8th day of November, 2001.
LABARGE, INC.
By______________________________________
Craig E. LaBarge
President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Donald H. Nonnenkamp
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
A-7
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE
Certificate No. R-
___________ Rights
NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER NOVEMBER 7, 2011 OR EARLIER IF REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
OCCURS. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $.001 PER RIGHT AND TO EXCHANGE
ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
RIGHT CERTIFICATE
LABARGE, 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 Rights
Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2001 (the "Rights Agreement"), between
LaBarge, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and UMB Bank, N.A. (the
"Rights Agent"), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution
Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 p.m.,
New York time, on November 7, 2011 at the principal office of the Rights Agent,
or at the office of its successor as Rights Agent, one one-thousandth of a fully
paid non-assessable share of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock of
the Company, without par value (the "Preferred Shares"), at a purchase price of
$21.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), upon
presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election
to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate (and the number of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share which may
be purchased upon exercise hereof) set forth above, and the Purchase Price set
forth above, are the number and Purchase Price as of November 19, 2001 based on
the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date. As provided in the Rights
Agreement, the Purchase Price and the number of one one-thousandths of a
Preferred Share which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the
happening of certain events.
This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and
conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are
hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which
Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the
Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Right Certificates. Copies of
the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of the
Company.
This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon
surrender at the principal office of the Rights Agent, may be exchanged for
another Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled
such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part,
the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right
Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised.
B-1
Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced
by this Right Certificate (i) may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption
price of $.001 per Right or (ii) may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for
Preferred Shares or shares of the Company's Common Stock.
No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any
Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions which are integral
multiples of one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election
of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but, in lieu thereof, a
cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.
No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or
receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred
Shares or of any other securities of the Company which may at any time be
issuable on the exercise thereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights
Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any
of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the
election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any
meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to
receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as
provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription
rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right
Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.
This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.
WITNESS the signature of the proper officer of the Company and of the
Rights Agent.
Dated as of _______________, 2001.
LaBARGE, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Craig E. LaBarge
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
COUNTERSIGNED:
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE
(To be executed if holder desires to exercise Rights
represented by the Right Certificate.)
To: LABARGE, INC.
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise __________ Rights
represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares issuable
upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such
Preferred Shares be issued in the name of:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________________
___________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
___________________________________________
If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such
Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:
Please insert social security
or other identifying number:____________________________________________________
___________________________________________
(Please print name and address)
Dated: ____________________________________
Signature _________________________________
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
B-3
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). After due
inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate were not acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: ____________________________________
Signature _________________________________
The signature in the Form of Assignment or Form of Election to
Purchase, as the case may be, must conform to the name as written upon the face
of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement
or any change whatsoever. In the event the certification set forth above in the
Form of Assignment or the Form of Election to Purchase, as the case may be, is
not completed, the Company and the Rights Agent will deem the beneficial owner
of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be an Acquiring Person or
an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and such
Assignment or Election to Purchase will not be honored.
B-4
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF RIGHT CERTIFICATE]
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT
(To be executed by the registered holder if such
holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED _____________________________________________ hereby
sells, assigns and transfers unto ______________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please print name and address of transferee)
this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________ Attorney, to
transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company,
with full power of substitution.
Dated: ____________________________________
Signature _________________________________
Signature Guaranteed:
Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in
the United States.
CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this
Right Certificate are not beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or an
Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement). After due
inquiry and to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the Rights evidenced by
this Right Certificate were not acquired or beneficially owned by an Acquiring
Person or an Affiliate or Associate thereof.
Dated: ____________________________________
Signature _________________________________
The signature to the foregoing Assignment and Certificate must
correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in
every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE
PREFERRED SHARES
On November 8, 2001, the Board of Directors of LaBarge, Inc. (the
"Company") adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Rights Plan"). The purpose of
the Rights Plan is to deter certain coercive takeover tactics and enable the
Board of Directors to represent effectively the interest of shareholders in the
event of a takeover attempt. The Rights Plan does not deter negotiated mergers
or business combinations that the Board of Directors determines to be in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
To implement the Rights Plan the Board of Directors declared a dividend
of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding share of
common stock (the "Common Shares") of the Company. The dividend was paid on
November 19, 2001 to the shareholders of record on that date. Each Right
entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth
of a share of Series C Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company,
$1.00 par value (the "Preferred Shares"), at a price of $21.00 per one
one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment. The description and
term of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent.
RIGHTS ATTACH TO COMMON SHARES INITIALLY
Initially and until a Distribution Date (as defined below) occurs, the
Rights are attached to all Common Shares and no separate Rights certificates
will be issued. During this initial period,
- the Rights are not exercisable;
- the Rights are transferred with the Common Shares and are not
transferable separately from the Common Shares;
- new Common Share certificates or book entry shares issued will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by
reference; and
- the transfer of any Common Shares will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with those Common Shares.
DISTRIBUTION OF RIGHTS
Separate certificates evidencing the Rights will be mailed to holders
of record of the Common Shares on the "Distribution Date." The Distribution Date
is the earlier to occur of the
C-1
following two events (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of
Directors, upon approval by a majority of the directors):
- the tenth day after a public announcement that a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired 15% or
more of the outstanding Common Shares (thereby becoming an
"Acquiring Person" under the Rights Plan; the date of such
public announcement is referred to as the "Stock Acquisition
Date"); or
- the tenth day after the commencement or announcement of a
tender or exchange offer by a person or group for 15% or more
of the outstanding Common Shares.
Acquisitions by the following persons will not result in the person
becoming an Acquiring Person: The Company, any subsidiary, any employee benefit
plan of the Company, a person who becomes an Acquiring Person as a result of
inheritance (unless and until such person acquires additional Common Shares not
beneficially owned by such person or which such person did not have the right to
acquire from the Company on the date of the Rights Plan), Pierre L. LaBarge,
Jr., Craig E. LaBarge, or any other person approved in advance by the Board of
Directors.
After the Distribution Date, the Rights will be tradable separately
from the Common Shares After the Distribution Date and after the Company's right
to redeem (as described below) has expired, the Rights will be exercisable in
two different ways depending on the circumstances as set forth below.
RIGHT TO PURCHASE STOCK
In the event that, any time following the Distribution date, a person
or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right (except those held
by the Acquiring Person and its affiliates and associates) will have the right
to purchase, upon exercise, Common Shares (or, in certain circumstances,
Preferred Shares or other similar securities of the Company) having a value
equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. In other words, the Rights
holders other than the Acquiring Person may purchase Common Shares or other
securities at a 50% discount.
For example, at the exercise price of $21.00 per Right, each Right not
owned by an Acquiring Person would entitle its holder to purchase $42.00 worth
of Common Shares (or other consideration, as noted above) for $21.00. Assuming a
value of $6 per Common Share at such time, the holder of each valid Right would
be entitled to purchase 7 Common Shares for $21.00.
RIGHT TO PURCHASE ACQUIRING PERSON STOCK
Alternatively, if, in a transaction not approved by the Board of
Directors prior to the time any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination or 50% or more of
its assets or earning power are sold after a person or group has become an
Acquiring Person, and the Company's redemption right has expired, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the
right to purchase, upon exercise, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company as have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right. In other words, a Rights holder may purchase the acquiring company's
common stock at a 50% discount.
C-2
EXCHANGE OF COMPANY STOCK FOR RIGHTS
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
before the Acquiring Person acquires 50% or more of the outstanding Common
Shares, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned
by the Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an
exchange ratio of one Common Share, or one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share
(or of a share of a class or series of the Company's preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to
adjustment).
REDEMPTION
The Rights are redeemable by the Company in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.001 per Right at any time up to and including the tenth day after
the time that a person or a group has become an Acquiring Person, subject to
extension of this redemption period by the Board of Directors. Immediately upon
redemption the right to exercise will terminate and the only right of holders
will be to receive the redemption price.
EXPIRATION OF RIGHTS
The Rights will expire on November 7, 2011 unless the expiration date
is extended by amendment as described below or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described above.
AMENDMENTS
As long as the Rights are redeemable, the terms of the Rights may be
amended by the Board of Directors in its discretion without the consent of the
Rights holders. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, no amendment may
adversely affect the interests of the Rights holders (other than the Acquiring
Person).
MISCELLANEOUS
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-thousandths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are subject to
adjustment under certain circumstances.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Preferred
Share that may be purchased upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one Common Share
Until a Right is exercised, a Rights holder, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
November 9, 2001. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available to Rights holders
free of charge upon request to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
C-3
This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
C-4